Fabio Attanasio it the proper Italian Gentleman to have on a watch-related channel, and that’s exactly why he’s been among the first interviews on IamCasa.
AC: Hello guys and welcome back to IamCasa! It’s Andrea here and today I’m joined by Fabio Attanasio to talk a little bit about his passion and about him. Benvenuto Fabio!
FA: Grazie Andrea, hello everyone!
AC: Fabio, for those who didn’t know you, I’d like to say that you are a scholar and expert of what’s beautiful, and above all tailoring, as you explain us everyday. Author of this book, just published! Fabio, for this interview I decided to put you to the test (even if it’s you testing my skills): I brought a pair of shoes, how about we shine them while we chat?
FA: Allright then!
AC: I got in touch with you like many of us by Instagram, with the blog, TheBespokeDudes, that has become a huge project.I wanted to know how differenti s to you to live something and recount it to others?
FA: Today with social mediait’s easier to share what you’re living. It obviously depends on what you want: you have to create a boundary between what you want and don’t want to show, because social medias create a sort of obsession twards posting and sharing. Obviously it is a mechanism created for rewarding with grouth who’s creating and posting more, but you have to beware of what’s your limit, your boundary. I chose to share what’s related to my passion, so: watchmaking, tailoring, travelling… And I try to do this creating value for who’s reading, because many of them don’t know how to approach a tailored garment.
AC: Indeed, I remember a great event at Vitale Barberis with you talking…great one!
FA: Yes, abouta very similar topic to my book “Scent of Tailoring”, that compares different schools of tailoring in Italy to the ones from Spain. So both a comparison of Italian tailoring as well as one between Madrid, Barcelona and Asturias. This is, in some ways, the conclusion of eight, better nine, years of travelling from a tailor to another. Can you imagine? I visited more than 150 tailors in nine years. Being a digital native I wanted to sum up all that work and knowledge in something tangible, because all these tailors have their way of conceiving a jacket, and that’s even the charming part…
AC: Same as in watchmaking!
FA: Exactly, everyone has his own ideantity. At the same time a Milanese jacket (if it’s a thing) has an identity, different from the Florentine’s one, both different from the Neapolitan one…
AC: Sure!
FA: And every good tailor, every master, should be able to do this: creating an identity in their jackets.
AC: Now I understand where is your passion for watches from.
FA: Exactly!
AC: So: when did you start? You’ve been an editor for the most important magazines, you studied a lot…but when has this adventure started?
FA: In 2012, after I graduated from Bocconi, I decided to open a website, without a business plan or anything like I would do today. It was just the result of a strong desire, too strong not to be fulfilled, a passion too big just to remain that. And so I started travelling and exploring tailor’s shops. The first time I realized it was becoming a job was when a tailor, late at ngh as he was doing a trunk show in Japan, texted me a Whartsapp saying: “You won’t believe what happened: a guy just went to me with a picture of you on his phone, asking me to make the exact same trousers you had on”. That was possibly the first time I realized that it was getting together. Yes, I was seeing the numbers on analytics, where and how much the website was visited, but I didn’t get it from just the numbers.
AC: Sure, like that you really experienced it in first person.
FA: Exactly, that was the first time I said to myself “ Wow, maybe that’s becoming something more than fun and games”.
AC: So you weren’t expecting that?!
FA: Sure I didn’t.
AC: And ow did you became a watch lover? I met you at the Vendemmia in Milan, at Omega’s event, with the ideao of you being an expert in tailoring and bespoke, a super stylish dude but I’ve never understood wether you were passionate or not. And getting to know you better I can really say you are passionate, sometimes more than I am!
FA: No, I’m not like you, you have far more knowledge than I do, let’s say you could be what I am but in whatchmaking.
AC: Oh, I hope so! But I have a lot to do till I become that guy.
FA: My best wishes for that! My passion for watchmaking came along the road. I wasn’t born passionate, and, let’s say, ten years ago, I wasn’t. Seven years ago I had some vintage Omegas, time only, that I’ll show you today. They were my Grandfather’s, two pre-Seamaster, from 1958 and 1962, that I lately gave to Omega to be restored. At the time I used to post pictures wearing these watches, nothing special, don’t think about something well done and divulgative. That way I started becoming passionate, and one day I received an email from the press department of Omega. They wanted to meet me and learn more about my passion, and about the watches I posted, and from that we grew a great relationship and respect. I got passionate in Omega and like that I started knowing and sturying more. It’s how I am.
AC: I can tell!
FA: When I like something I have to get to its core, to learn and explore every detail.
AC: Yes, I know: I left you knowing the reference of a watch, and maybe four particulars, and when I saw you again a week later you knew everything. Congrats for that!
FA: Seven years ago I didn’t even know the difference between a dial and a bezel. Now I’m not an expert like you are, but…
AC: You have a lot to teach for sure! How about we see some watches?
FA: Sure thing, let’s go!
AC: Here we are, with all the watches! Let’s start with that one, that gets me excited. Does it have a story?
FA: It has: these Swiss guys are masters in painting on leather, from a picture, an image or an inspiration, they paint what you wish on leather in general. For me being a watch lover, they created this watch holder. This is an amazing portrait from a super talendet Korean photographer, made during a shooting for The Rake. As per my grat love for this portrait, they chose it to be painted on this pouch (all hand painted, there is no printing).
AC: Super cool! And you’re wearing the FOIS here aswell, which was the first. I see that you mostly enjoy sporty pieces. How come?
FA: Yes, I’ve always loved a sport watch, but of course I have more classic timepieces. Omega was my first love, you know, I always say that. This in particular has a grat story to me, as it was the first watch I purchased when the blog became profitable. The first two years were just an investment, and as I’ve always had a passion for the Speedmaster, I bought the First Omega In Space, Wally Schirra’s edition, mostly because the symmetrical case in 39mm fits perfectly my wrist …
AC: It does.
FA: And I love it, it’s my travel companion in many many trips, especially on motorbikes.
AC: We do see it pretty often on your Instagram… super! Omega surely is the leitmotiv of the collection even on your wrist …
FA: Yes, the Globemaster is one of my favorites, I love the pie-pan dial, the fluted bezel, the dimension, the strap and deployante…
AC: It’s so modern!
FA: Beautiful one, with an open caseback…
AC: I love the medal!
FA: Yes, with the eight stars representing the eight record Omega broke. You see I’ve done my homework!
AC: Yes, absolutely! I see a great lineup, obviously not missing the gentleman’s choice par excellence…
FA: The 3710! I like it because ix super thin and nobody wanted it
AC: So true!
AC: It almost was an ugly duckling. Roman numerals, power reserve between 11 and 12… these particulars make it different from the ordinary.
AC: It has his character, indeed not your average watch.I do appreciate the collection, it’s pretty personal, going in many directions. I see a novelty, the Speedmaster with Dot Over Ninety, I know you like that detail, I recently saw your IG…
FA: Oh I love it. It’s an icon, even though this case is bigger, they still managed to get a perfect proportion making the case thinner.
AC: And I love the new clasp…
FA: Yes, the new bracelt rocks, so beautiful.
AC: I strongly agree.
FA: Lovely, they made a great job with it. And I love the Seamaster Aqua-Terra with this Teak dial, you see, orizhontally finished, in blue, also with opened caseback and this steel plus Sedna gold combo.
AC: How do you feel about two-tone, do you like it?
FA: On that one yes. I love that watch, and it really fits me perfectly.
AC: Yes it does, always with helix lugs like the Speed has. Pretty one, yes.
FA: Very very nice. And here are more classic pieces. These are the famous grandfather’s ones and some classics…
AC: Do I see a blue one?
FA: Yes, it’s the Tribute!
AC: Amazing, super tasteful!
FA: Thanks! Originally it had on a Casa Fagliano’s strap, made by these leather specialists from Argentina, specialized in riding shoes, for horse lovers, that partnered with JLC to create the straps. I put on an alligator strap to make it more dressy. And the font on the initials matches perfectly the DNA of the watch, with this Art Nouveau feeling, in some ways inspired by the Reverso.
AC: Indeed, and why 13.03?
FA: It’s my birth date, related to 2020, the year I decided to get it engraved. I know it’s also the year of the pandemic…
AC: It looks like a celebration of it… What do you think about shaped watches? Do you like them better than the others?
FA: I do love them, and for the Reverso that one is a large model, just because it’s mono-face. The medium one on the other hand is a duo face, which works just on this size. A large duo-face would be too thick. That Duo-Face here, with black an white sides, is a medium one.
AC: That one looks like your go to for night time.
FA: You’re right, and that one with a black strap or green alligator is perfect at night. Works well with black-tie attire aswell, even though the etiquette would prohibit a watch during black tie occasions…
AC: Really? I didn’t know that!
FA: It’s really something from the 800s.
AC: How come? You should use a pocket watch?
FA: No, if you’re invited at a black tie event and you wear a watch it’s like you want to know what time it is because you want to leave, it’s rude. To enjoy the best of the night you shouldn’t wear a watch, but it’s a very old-fashioned way o thinking…
AC: Thanks anyhow, I didn’t know that!
FA: I do wear a watch with my black tie.
AC: Which one?
FA: It depends, sometimes that super simple one with a great patina and sub-seconds…
AC: good one, with 12, 3 and 9 in roman numerals, peculiar one.
FA:Yes, or the black strap one. A little bit more vintage but with a sporty strap, with the stitching. It’s a Shell Cordovan leather, great one, but with no stitching it would work perfectly!
AC: Indeed.
FA: That one aswell, but with a black strap. And, as you are teaching me, sporty watches are getting more and more formal everyday.
AC: Sure thing, but I wasn’t expecting you wearing there. I think we’ve found a dark side of Fabio somehow!
FA: You see?!
AC: Where do you see watchmaking in the next few years?
FA: Million dollar question…
AC: I know, you could ask me and I wouldn’t be able to give you a solid answer. But how’s it with youngsters? I mean, I’ve seen it growing on you a lot, do you think others will experience the same interest, maybe also in classic timepieces?
FA: Well, in general alla the speculation around watches is not benefitting the passion. On the other hand, more and more people are attracted to watches for that exact same reason, and I hope that maybe after they buy one watch for the money they get in love with it. As I sais, I hope…
AC: It really should happen, yes.
FA: We can say that watchmaking needs to build an identity as much as tailoring does. There is a huge risk aversion. So. Many brands have one iconic model and every year they work on it and they’re done. It happens everywhere, even in the automotive business. Other brands, on the other hand, are doing a great work: my friend Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani did an amazing job with the Octo for Bvlgari. And other ones aswell are going beyond their standards to make their clients happy, not just playing with iconic pieces.
AC: Great! Thanks a lot Fabio for being with me. I hope to sit down with you again in few years to see how your collection developed.
FA: So do I!
AC: And so: a great good luck to you!
FA: Thank you, best wishes to you too!
AC: See you soon then!
FA: Bye!
