How is life in Italy at the moment, it seems to us like things are pretty much back to normal now the lockdown has ended?

Now in Italy it’s coming back to normality. We were the first country to act on the lockdown and it was a good solution to decrease the contagion.

How has the pandemic affected the running of President’s?

President’s was affected especially in the US not only because of COVID but also due to the riots. Many states are still closed and that makes things hard to handle. We are looking forward to having the normal life back again.

What about on a personal level, how did you cope with the isolation?

It was a strange situation especially because I had a baby in February so I did a full immersion of dad work, that helped me to stay busy. We discovered a smart working reality that can help continue the company’s life but can’t replace my real job of working on items.

All of your amazing garments are made in Italy and where possible in Florence which is a place particularly close to my heart having lived in Tuscany in the 90s. What is it about this beautiful region that makes it so special in your opinion?

Tuscany has a timeless beauty and style. It is the land of craftsmanship, high quality yarns, leather. This country is full of authenticity because we can still find small labs and artisans that keep this culture alive.

Away from the obvious tourist spots in Tuscany are there any places off the beaten track that you can recommend us to come and check out over there?

The Tuscan region is a mix of various landscapes from the sea to the hills and the mountains. Very nice but a not so much discovered place is Casentino, especially Poppi, famous for its castle and the amazing “ravioli”. In the Casentino area they invented “Casentino wool”, a very compact and durable fabric that was used for hunting jackets for the military that’s now an elegant and sophisticated material used all around the world.

What can we expect to see in the new President’s AW20 collection?

The title of AW20 collection is Tuscan Renaissance. It wants to celebrate the link between the brand and Tuscan region – its homeland – emphasized by the local artisan workmanship. Embroidered flowers and hand knitted sweaters are blended with shades of green, camel, orange and purple, the typical colours of this land.

Do you have any personal favourite pieces?

My favourite piece could be the tousled shaggy fleece. The material comes from the inspiration of American outdoor brands, but this one it is made with 100% virgin wool and has been developed in Tuscany

Like a fool I missed out on your sweatshirts with the multicoloured embroidered logo on the front, will you be doing any more of those in future seasons?

It’s not a carry over item, but people like the embroidery made that was made with a cornelly machine from the 1950s.

Having been around since 1957 is there a President’s archive and if so can we come and have a look please?

President’s brand was founded and registered in 1957 by my Grandpa, but it wasn’t used in nearly 60 years until I recuperated it and gave it a precise identity (around 2010). Even if there’s not a big archive of President’s, in our company you will find a Roy Roger’s archive – the first Italian blue jeans (1952). It allows us to conserve the historic memory of our company, and the story of years of experimentation and of unique and creative processes based on manual craftsmanship. It also represents a constant source of inspiration: this is where I start from when I begin to design a new collection.

President’s always makes me think of the type of clothes I’d wear on a date (with my wife) to an impressive restaurant that’s still relaxed enough to really enjoy yourself in. Do you have a perfect place like this where you can go to unwind and enjoy some amazing food?

A very nice and informal restaurant is Osteria delle Tre Panche…specialising in truffle dishes.

What can we expect to see from President’s in the future?

President’s is an underground and independent brand so I really hope to increase the business, to also help the work of local artisans, and spread out the Italian culture with President’s contemporary vibes.

President’s in conversation with Ghemon, Italian Rapper that we styled for his new videoclips “Questioni di principio” and “In un certo qual modo”.

You started out as a writer, then gradually landed in music and hip-hop in the second half of the 90s. What prompted you to make music rather than graffiti?

It would be easier to ask the opposite question, that is, how the hell did I end up doing graffiti even before music? In fact, when I approached Hip-Hop in 1995, my friends and I were trying to do a little bit of everything: rap, DJ, graffiti, breakdance. Improvising. It was a way to unleash our creativity, to continue with what I felt most inclined to, working on my basic talent, which perhaps I didn’t even know I had at the time.
Constant training is necessary, whether you have great skills or not.

Unlike the stereotype of the contemporary rapper, you carry on the concept of never being aggressive, expressing yourself with the good. How would you define your way of making music?

I am like this also in everyday life, and this is how I behave. However, I always say “don’t mistake my kindness for weakness”. I know how to be respected, but it is not with aggression that I get what I want. I know that in this world, which is sometimes so cynical, there are many people who are in my same part of humanity, in my own heart. I speak to them and with them.

We have many points in common, such as the passion for basketball and street culture. What impressed you of President’s?

President’s idea seems to revisit the style of the Italian tradition, the one that everyone envies us, our roots, our materials and take it to the next level, meeting the new languages of the world,. This is what fashion communicates today by merging with streetwear. I saw all this in your brand and I identified with it. I found everything so elegant and stylish, without urgency to be loud. That’s what I mean for style.

What are the items that can never be missing in your wardrobe?

Wow, really difficult question. Sneakers, first of all. I collect them and I have more than 500 pairs. Always new t-shirts, because that’s something I never give up. And a camel-colored coat or raincoat, because even if you wear a suit underneath, it solves an entire outfit.

We had the pleasure of collaborating with you for the styling of the video “Questioni di principio”, a song that summarizes your path from 2007 to present. How do you find difficult to maintain your identity in such a fickle world?

It is very difficult to be original and different, in such a global world, where everyone is constantly playing for their own opportunity, the famous “15 minutes of celebrity”, as Warhol said. We must be constant and understand that our real resource is to be ourselves.

Can you please give us an intro of your bio.. how did you get into the basket world?

I was born on an island in the Caribbean called Saint Kitts but I’ve been a lifelong fan of the NBA. It was always a goal of mine to work with such a prestigious league. Now, I’ve been with the Philadelphia 76ers for six seasons. From 10-win seasons to 50-win seasons to our current-day Championship mentality, it has been a great journey.

The sixers performed very well last season. What do you think are the keys to success?

Over the course of the season, the team has seen a lot of changes to its roster. You could argue that these changes could have gone either way. Fortunately for us, the team was able to gel down the stretch and perform at an elite level. The team’s chemistry is what makes us so strong. Right now, we have arguably the most talented roster in the NBA and only time will tell where we go from here. We expect great things from the 76ers in 2020 and beyond.

You travel a lot around the world; do you have an object that accompanies you, of which you never separate?

My Apple Watch. Over the past couple years, I’ve prioritized my health and wellness. My Apple Watch does a great job of tracking my movement throughout the day and telling me when I need to breathe. Whenever I travel to a new city, I always go out for a run to really get a feel for the place and my watch always accompanies me.

Among your travels, you also came to visit us in Italy. Favorite dish?

Anything with truffles.

Even in the NBA world, there is a lot of attention to fashion. What is the favorite items from the players?

As I look from afar, I’d say players pay a lot of attention to their footwear. Footwear is huge. Whether or not they endorse a particular brand, sneaker culture has engrained itself into the NBA and beyond. Coming in a close second is easily the accessory bag.

What struck you about President’s?

I was introduced to the brand by a close friend of mind, Dustin Lewis. I think I went four days straight wearing one of President’s flannel shirts, so I went back to Dustin like, “I need more from this brand.” Ironically, Dustin was planning a visit to President’s headquarters and asked if I was available. I made the trip and instantly fell in love with President’s appreciation for fabrics and production. Now, I’m a fan for life and can’t wait for us to do more with President this upcoming season.

President’s in conversation with Robert Hirsh, founder of the Mexico City based menswear store, Silver Deer.

Silver Deer has become well-known known around the world as a destination for menswear in the past few years. Tell us about how the store started.
Since I was young I always liked fashion and dressing with style. One day, on a flight back home from San Francisco in 2011, I started to think about the fact that I liked to shop but that I didn’t want to travel for 4 hours on a plane to do so, coupled with the fact that you could not find interesting luxury men’s fashion in Mexico. Consequently, I saw an opportunity that no one had exploited and in 2012 I opened Silver Deer, offering the best selection of high end men’s fashion brands. In Mexico, Silver Deer is the only retailer that introduces new and edgy brands and we strive to offer a different point of view in terms of product as well as of luxury to the Mexican man.

 

How did you end up in Mexico City?
In 1998, I worked for a Canadian Bank and they moved me here for a special project. For me it was a life changer, even though I’m a proud Canadian. The weather here is amazing – except it lacks snow – and I’m getting to fulfill my life’s passion.

 

It’s a city positively buzzing with art and culture and philosophy and some of the best food in the world, right? What are your favorite things about D.F. and your neighborhood?
I find that Mexicans have a very unique way of presenting seafood dishes. There is a place at Colonia Roma, a very hip neighborhood, called Contramar, and it is one of my favorites, the food is amazing. Also, it’s a very concurred place so you will always find someone you know. That’s something amazing of this city, even though it’s the biggest of the world, no matter where you go you will find someone you know!

 

You always look mighty sharp. Do you have a personal style philosophy of sorts?
I think looking good is feeling good, so I not only think of my style as something I wear, but the way I live. I exercise – running and skiing are my favorite sports – I take care of what I eat, even though I sometimes pamper myself with a little indulgence. I also love to read and keep up in current events.

 

What is it about President’s that has drawn Silver Deer to the brand? We’re very pleased to be among the many excellent brands in the shop.
President’s is one of my favorite brands, I just love it, not only because I sell it, but even before, when I was just a normal client. The fabrics are top quality, the textures unique, and they’ve managed to keep a fresh and young approach. It fits my style and my customers style to the perfection.

President’s is available at Silver Deer in store and online here.

President’s in conversation with Todd Barket, founder of the San Francisco based menswear store, Unionmade.
Photos by Kelsey McClellan. 

Unionmade has built a reputation as one of the best classic menswear stores in the world. What’s the brand’s origin story?
I have worked in retail all of my adult life. I worked for Gap Inc for almost 20 years in various creative capacities and I was always lucky to work with people who had great taste and understood quality. I was also lucky to understand what American style and personal style meant to consumers. With my past experience I have come to realize that it’s nice to have a classic base to our wardrobe. Things that get better with age, things that you want to hold onto. It seems that at Unionmade we are doing the opposite of what is happening in the world, but luckily we have a group of customers who share this idea of timelessness and quality with us.

After I left my old job in 2009 I wanted to start my own project. I was always inspired by stores in Japan like Beams, Journal Standard and B Shop and their take on Americana. They always had an unexpected twist to it that made it not literal.  When we opened we were heavily based in American brands, many of which people haven’t seen in years and we were able to curate and present things in a way that people hadn’t seen before and give it our own twist. The concept resonated with people and we have luckily had a very loyal following since.

How do you keep things interesting season after season?
I always look forward to the next season. I think that’s why I always liked retail so much, because there is always change, movement, and new ideas. We work really hard to find new lines and concepts each season, we travel for inspiration and meet a lot of people. We are lucky because so many of the people we have been working with do such an amazing job at recreating their lines seasonally, so there’s built in freshness there. We are also lucky we get a lot of word of mouth connections from people about different lines but at the end of the day, we are out looking in showrooms, talking to people and making connections.

There is so much cultural and economic vitality in San Francisco, but it’s not generally thought of as a style capital like Paris, New York, or even Los Angeles. What are your thoughts on the matter? Is Unionmade changing that?

I have lived in San Francisco for 25 years and it’s changed so dramatically during that time. When I first arrived it felt like a secret. If you were in the know you understood how amazing of a place it is: beautiful, gritty, diverse, and with character unlike any city I have ever been to. The secret is out and new people are coming to live here all the time, which I think has helped us cement ourselves as a casually stylish city. The city oddly has a really classic and casual approach to style and people tend not to fall into trends and are rather understated. We invented denim here and we are home to several internationally known brands. People have a distinct sensibility and we have developed our own sense of style. We have educated people who like quality and appreciate thoughtful design. Our food scene is unmatched and it seems like with the food movement revolving around quality it has moved into clothing and other aspects of people’s lives too. I think Unionmade has a distinctly San Francisco point of view, and I’m always thinking about how the things we buy will work into people’s wardrobes as well as their lives.  We have a large group of customers who look to us to disseminate seasonal ideas for them and show them how to interpret ideas through our lens.

You’re in a real hotpot between the Castro and the Mission. What’s your favorite thing about the neighborhood?

We are in a great neighborhood! The Castro is the birthplace of gay rights and continues to be the most famous gay neighborhood in the world. The Mission was a Latin neighborhood that has morphed into a diverse area brimming with restaurants and retail. We are in the middle of both, near Dolores Park, a gathering place for everyone on the south side of the city. We are also lucky to have great neighbor stores. The building that we are in is a historic pre 1906 earthquake victorian and the city has done a great job of keeping the personality of each of its neighborhoods, large chain businesses are not allowed for example. My favorite part about the neighborhood is the diversity and access to great amenities.

 

You always look so dapper. Do you have a personal style philosophy of sorts?

Thank you. At my age I’m not trying too many new things. I have always been into fashion and worked around it, so I’ve always had access to clothing at many levels and I like to mix things. Long before fast fashion there was Gap which have played a huge role in my sense of style. The idea was nicely priced well designed basics that you can wear and make your own, with your personal style. My philosophy is kind of the same. I tend to have a base of easy quality basics and I layer with pieces that have a little bit more of character. I tend to hold onto a lot and mix old pieces in with new, as I tend to wear only neutrals (blues, grey, creams, black). Everything works together and always mixes well.

Tell us how Unionmade selects the products it sells? What are the general characteristics of items that make your rigorous edit?
We definitely see a lot of product but we only have a limited amount of space, so that is one thing that tends to keep us in check. I usually use myself as the brand filter. I feel like everything I buy I would want to wear. There is nothing that we have that I don’t like. The buying in curation is really personal and I work really hard to edit and present the best of what we have seen.

What is it about President’s that has drawn Unionmade to the brand? We’re so pleased to be among the excellent brands in the shop.
President’s makes complete sense to us. It’s high quality, understated and beautifully executed. The story of the brand is lovely and Guido and his family have such a passion that we were instantly attracted to what they do. Also, we love their connection to the creative world and the love of photography. Customers love it because the quality is evident from the first touch and all of the pieces easily work into everyone’s wardrobes and anyone can style them how they choose, which is what Unionmade is built upon.

What does Italian style mean to you?
In America I think we have an interesting perception of what Italian style is. We see the fashion side of things with the design houses and the seasonal trend ideas but when you go to Italy and see the sense of style that people have it’s always amazing, and inspiring. Italians know how to keep it casual but always looked pulled together. People take great care in how they look no matter what their socioeconomic situation – I have always felt it’s quality over quantity.

President’s is available at Unionmade in store and online here.