Master Pino Peluso at the International Tailoring Congress: Training, Identity, and the Future of Tailoring
Neapolitan tailoring returns to the forefront of international discourse, bringing with it not only a centuries-old tradition but a true cultural model. The second edition of the International Tailoring Congress, organized by the Asociación Española de Sastrería (AES), took place in Madrid from March 13 to 15, 2026. This event brings together European institutions, experts, and schools to reflect on the future of the textile and tailoring industry.
Among the event’s key figures was master Pino Peluso, Secretary General of the World Federation of Master Tailors (WFMT) and a leading figure in Italian tailoring, who was invited to speak on the panel dedicated to new training pathways bridging craftsmanship and the fashion industry.
Tradition Becomes Method
Neapolitan tailoring is not merely a style recognizable for its lightness, elegance, and deconstructed construction; it is a system of knowledge passed down through generations, a language composed of gestures, timing, and manual sensitivity. In a European context increasingly oriented toward production standardization, this model represents a balance between artisanal heritage and innovation.
The central theme of the conference—training—is in fact intertwined with a growing critical issue: the shortage of skilled labor. A problem that affects not only Italy but the entire global fashion sector.
“Neapolitan tailoring is a heritage recognized worldwide, but without training and new generations, this knowledge risks being lost,” emphasizes Peluso. “The challenge today is to pass these artisanal skills on to new generations, because they represent the very essence of Made in Italy.”
Made in Italy: Much More Than a Label
It is precisely at this point that the discussion broadens, moving beyond the realm of tailoring to touch on the very heart of the Made in Italy concept.
Often reduced to a commercial brand, Made in Italy is actually a complex system that brings together culture, territory, technical expertise, and aesthetic vision. It is not merely about “producing in Italy,” but about thinking, designing, and creating according to a logic deeply rooted in identity, where craftsmanship becomes a value rather than a mere production phase.
In the case of Neapolitan tailoring, this translates into:
- a centrality of the hand over the machine
- a attention to invisible detail, which determines the final quality
- a direct relationship between master and apprentice, which goes beyond formal instruction
- a production process that prioritizes uniqueness and true wearability over mass production
“Made in Italy,” therefore, is not merely aesthetic excellence, but an anthropological model of craftsmanship, in which time, experience, and individual sensibility become an integral part of the product.
“At Sartoria Peluso, to create our bespoke suits, we are always striving for perfection, which is why we use the finest fabrics, sourcing them from the world’s finest and oldest textile companies, always ensuring they are made from 100% natural raw materials.”
Education: The Real Crux of the Future
The panel in Madrid will address precisely this issue: how to transfer such complex knowledge into a contemporary educational system.
On one hand, fashion schools and academic programs; on the other, workshops and traditional apprenticeships. Two worlds that often struggle to communicate, but which today, more than ever, must find common ground.
Otherwise, the risk is twofold:
- losing irreplaceable manual skills
- stripping “Made in Italy” of its authentic essence, reducing it to mere branding
A heritage to preserve, a model to export
The International Tailoring Congress thus serves not only as a forum for technical exchange but as an opportunity to redefine the role of craftsmanship in the global fashion system.
The presence of Neapolitan tailoring, and of figures such as Pino Peluso, confirms that Italy continues to be an international benchmark not so much for the quantity produced, but for the quality of the knowledge it preserves.
In an increasingly fast-paced world, Italian craftsmanship remains an almost counter-cultural act: slow, precise, human. And it is precisely this dimension, today, that makes it even more precious.
