A lifestyle dedicated to the highest quality suits, five star hotels, luxury cars, and travelling the world: sounds like the dream life from a Hollywood movie. However, one young man’s reality has it all. Meet Aristide Tofani, the young tailor and manager of Sartoria Tofani, who is shaking up the fashion and travel industries.

Sartoria Tofani is an ancient Neapolitan Tailoring founded in 1954. It has been the Tofani’s family business for three generations. Aristide is the youngest third generation member today. He joined the family business after finishing high-school, at the young age of nineteen. Since then, the Italian tailor, businessman and influencer travels to New York, Paris, Zurich, Hong Kong, and more to promote Sartoria Tofani.

He has also amassed an impressive following on social media, particularly on Instagram. In recent years, the young entrepreneur has become an influencer for fashion, travel, and lifestyle. In an interview with Beau Monde Traveler, Aristide illuminates the hard work and commitment necessary to achieve and maintain this way of life.

Sartoria Tofani

Aristide’s grandfather, Aristide Tofani Sr, founded the business in Naples in 1954. He was the first tailor of the family. Quickly he became well respected for achieving excellence in fine work. Following traditional Neapolitan and Italian fashion, he created Sartoria Tofani. The brand is known worldwide for producing exquisite garments, sewn by hand. He passed the knowledge of his art to Aristide’s father and uncle, who also worked in the family’s business.

Bespoke tailoring is more than a business for the Tofani family. It is a passion that is kindled since youth. Though Aristide began working full-time at Sartoria Tofani after high-school, he recalls some of his earliest memories, playing with fabrics and materials. Growing up in the atelier, the young tailor observed and learned the family trade since childhood. By the time Aristide embraced his vocation full-time, the job was less of an obligation and more of a joyous adventure. Now, he manages the business side of the brand, and trains in the art of bespoke tailoring himself.

Social Media

Aristide began working with Instagram almost ten years ago. These were the early stages of social media as a business tool. It was a visual way to showcase worldwide what the family was working on. During the first year, follower numbers grew rapidly. Loyal and frequent customers became interested in the brand’s visual media. Many of the followers who happened upon the Sartoria Tofani Instagram account became clients.

Through social media, Sartoria Tofani engaged a wide audience. International clients were interested in original and handmade Italian garments. “It’s like having a store everywhere in the world, because you can get exposure for your art worldwide,” says Aristide. The followers of Sartoria Tofani’s Instagram kept rapidly growing. Apart from the business side, Aristide found himself developing his personal social platforms, too. Instagram users were interested in the luxury garments, but also in the lifestyle of this industry, as well.

Followers were keen to know more. What was Aristide Tofani doing as a tailor, travelling the world, as a young entrepreneur? He found himself creating content of the most varied sort. Starting with bespoke tailoring and expanding to wider fashion, and ultimately, his travels. Followers were highly interested in work trips to New York and Hong Kong, and the stories that ensued from his adventures. The tailor and influencer found it to be not only a job, but a fun and pleasurable thing to do. Eventually, he began collaborating with other companies. Five-star hotels, top-tier hospitality, fashion brands, and tech companies such as Nikon sought him out.

The Challenges

Among the challenges he faced, Aristide recounts first managing the world of social media. This platform changes rapidly, everyday. With the rise of algorithm interpretations and analytics, the medium requires determination to remain successful: “Unless you keep yourself updated everyday, you might be left behind”, he comments.

With an international audience, foreign followers and a lifestyle of constant travelling, Aristide found the necessity to learn English. A self taught student, he devoted himself exceptionally throughout the years. Now, he is a fluent and eloquent speaker. In addition to learning English, and copywriting, he taught himself photography, too. Sartoria Tofani’s Instagram images are created by Aristide himself. He adds that from the very beginnings until today, he worked hard to enhance his photography, and saw a vast improvement in his skills. Now, he is sponsored by Nikon in Italy.

Aristide Tofani’s Travels

Aristide started travelling worldwide at age twenty-one. He found himself making sacrifices in order to maintain the lifestyle and keep improving. Yet he expresses gratitude for it. It is highly rewarding, despite the hard work and intense pressure in this lifestyle: “I have the fortune to live great experiences and meet amazing people,” he remarks.

Travelling and working implies a fast paced, constantly changing working environment. As a businessman in his twenties, Aristide shares how he adapted, maximising his time and productivity. While working from hotels, airports, and aeroplanes, Aristide overcame the demanding jetlag and 24-hour work schedule.

He first started by travelling in economy class. Aristide recalls having trouble sleeping, shutting out the noise, and adjusting to the constant change of locations. Instead, he preferred to get to work on his phone or laptop. Eventually, the young influencer developed his own rhythm. He learned how to stay mindful of his wellbeing despite the constant pressure of this lifestyle. Eventually, he found airports to be a favourable working environment, and used the busy setting to his advantage. Now, he builds business relationships with clients all over the world, and also cultivates international friendships.

Next Steps

Sharing news about the brand’s future, Aristide promises exciting developments. Sartoria Tofani are reaching new locations. America’s West Coast, as well as cities in Asia have Sartoria Tofani stores in sight. As for the travelling, Aristide guarantees to stay present on social media, engaging with his followers, and collaborating with other brands and organisations. He intends to keep learning, improving and providing the highest quality content for his clients and followers.