The evolution of Neapolitan tailoring
Our interview with Carlo Langella who, along his brother Alessandro, is updating the Neapolitan tailoring traditions with Karl Mommoo Homme
Langella & Figli is an Italian family business where the two Langella brothers, Carlo and Alessandro, both from Naples but based in Bologna, conduct their design work. If the Langella & Figli label is classic men’s formalwear, the Karl Mommoo Homme collection on the other hand aims to be a bridge between past and future. It proposes suits, tailored jackets, elegant coats, shirts with bold patterns, modern knitwear: it can be defined in fact, as a crossover collection with streetwear elements. We talked with Carlo Langella about this and many other things.
What are the origins of the company?
The company was founded 35 years ago. My grandfather was already in the textile manufacturing sector but only as a tailor. My parents decided to expand the business by introducing denim, total looks and also jackets, a category that has become crucial in our collections. Thanks to their strength and passion, my parents went from one small tailor’s workshop to a company with over 38 factories, still entirely focused on the tradition of Neapolitan tailoring”.
Tell us about the origins of Karl Mommoo Homme.
The entire project was born from me and my brother Alessandro. We wanted to continue to offer high quality garments but at the same time we wanted to make them more innovative, with more sophisticated designs, newer materials, more avant-garde cuts. One of the cornerstones of our brand is our communication strategy that allows us to convey our emotions to a very wide audience, as our customers and followers are based all over the world, from North America to Japan. Our language is fashion and fashion is an universal language.
For what kind of man are the collections designed?
The men who wear Karl Mommoo Homme are very versatile. During the day they may wear a formal suit at work, but after work they opt for a more casual look comprising of jeans and a jacket. Even for special occasions, like holidays and festivities, we always try to meet the demands of our end customers and to make them feel better when they wear our garments.
What are the inspirations behind the Autumn/Winter 2017 collection?
Every season has a style and a way of creating garments that is always different. For example the “Gentleman Artist” collection was inspired by our grandfather, the acclaimed artist, sculptor, painter and engraver Carlo Parlati from Torre del Greco near Naples. His artworks have been exhibited around the world, from the Metropolitan Museum in New York to the most important coral exhibitions in Japan. The collection contains strong references to the artist’s works in the shirts and accessories: these pieces communicate the strength and the passion that the artist used in his formidable engravings and paintings”.
