Tailor sewing his final suit
He’s fitted police commissioners, city councillors and governor-generals but for tailor Salvi Gaeta, all good things must come to an end.
The 79-year-old is putting down his shears for the last time after four decades of making made-to-measure suits in Wellington.
It’s not been an easy decision for Gaeta, who has spent the past 35 years working out of Berhampore store Europe Modes Tailoring, with the past few weeks proving to be a rollercoaster of feelings.
‘‘I get pretty emotional about leaving this beautiful art of bespoke tailoring but, at my age, I thought it was time to go.’’
Suiting up New Zealand governorgenerals Sir Paul Reeves, Sir Michael Hardie Boys and Sir Jerry Mateparae has been ‘‘an honour indeed,’’ Gaeta says, with many photos of notable clients dotted around his long-time workspace.
More prominent, however, are photos of himself dating all the way back to his childhood in Italy and his first few years in New Zealand, working at various tailors.
Born on the island of Capri and educated at the School of Fine Arts in Sorrento, Gaeta wasn’t fussed on becoming a tailor but upon the insistence of his mother, he gave it a go. The rest, he says, is history.
After completing his studies, he began serving an apprenticeship with a leading tailor in the Sorrento Peninsula. During that time, his mother saved up to help him one day move overseas.
He arrived in New Zealand at age 19 where he found his skills were quickly recognised: ‘‘I was never short of a job.’’
After a short stint in Nelson, Gaeta moved to Wellington, where he set up his first tailoring studio in Mercer St. Five years later, he moved the business to Adelaide Rd.
More than 30 years on, his passion remains – as does the loyalty of his customers, who have been making the most of his final days in business.
A 94-year-old man made the journey from Christchurch especially to be measured for a suit made by Gaeta. ‘‘We said we would send it down but he insisted he would come back and pick it up.’’
Other clients have been expressing their dismay, asking who they should go to now, to which Gaeta doesn’t have an answer.
Today will be the last day for Gaeta and his wife Jo, who has been by his side through it all.
The plan now, he says, is to take a trip back to ‘‘the homeland’’, devote time to charity work and get in some hours on the guitar.
‘‘I get pretty emotional about leaving this beautiful art of bespoke tailoring but, at my age, I thought it was time to go.’’
Tailor Salvi Gaeta