Oscar Wilde used to say “I am always satisfied with the best”, and Alberto Xoccato probably feels the same way when in 1956 founds his Xacus in San Vito di Leguzzano, Italy.
His intention is clear: to undertake, exalt and export the noble shirt-making art.
At the beginning of the 60s the first technical-industrial studio is opened. The 80s witness both Giorgio and Paolo, sons of the founder, joining the Company and the start of a production and commercial development new phase. The 90s are the years of the full achievement of the quality and customer service concepts, in short of those values making Xacus a leader and reference point for the discreet luxury-lovers.
It is a mix of tradition and innovation, pure handicraft and creative flair. The partnership with some of the most prestigious Maison of fabrics – from Albini to Albiate – and the taste for research and experimentation allows the Brand to give birth to a wide-ranging line-up, able to meet the demands of an extended and exacting audience.
A DNA that of Xacus that impetuously flows in each eyelet, button or embroidered initial. Shirts synonymous with modern exclusivity, freed from the rigid dictates of an agé elegance.
Fucking Young! – Xacus is founded in 1956 by Alberto Xoccato in San Vito di Leguzzano, in the outskirts of Vicenza. The goal is to join the shirt-making noble art of with his own very personal style and inspired entrepreneurial intuition. In the 80s, you, Giorgio and Paolo, succeed in leading the Company to the future. How would you summarize the history of your Brand? Why shirts?
Xacus – Shirts are a staple in every wardrobe but especially with regards to men’s fashion. Shirts are essential for those who wish to distinguish themselves. Shirts live on our skin and are changed on a daily basis. Northern Italy has been all along the cradle of some of the most important spinning mills in the world: finding top-notch material to create tailored garments has always been essential to us. The proximity to excellent raw material and an innate passion for shirts as a man’s distinctive feature lead to our path.
FY! – Xacus is synonymous of tradition and innovation as well. How can you manage to combine two apparently opposing elements?
X – Tradition is the centerpiece, the foundation, the study and discipline regulating the real quality of a garment. Innovation is a consequence of imagination, research and creativity only when applied to the solid basis of tradition it can create new collections which remain sheltered from the passing of time and imitation.
FY! – It is also, and above all, authentic made in Italy. Well aware of the value of its sartorial tradition, the Brand has always upheld and praised those product features that make the real difference. For you, how important is to keep your identity intact? In a hyper-competitive market – we could even define it ruthless – what are the advantages and disadvantages of producing in loco?
X – Price/quality is the most important ratio in the current market. The final consumer is finally able to get any information about products and its components on the internet. It’s now time to unleash the power of qualitative items, durable in time – it’s now time to get back to the roots of fashion business through a short supply chain. Our market has been under stress for many years and many good Italian clothing factories have closed down due to an extreme seek of margins by the big fashion brands that were completely outsourcing their production worldwide. Most fashion companies are empty boxes without their “production heart “. Our mission is to increase the value of our products and this is possible only through local resources.
FY! – Staying on the theme… After achieving coverage of the entire domestic market, the company set its sights on the export market, starting initially in North America and then extending its reach to the other major world markets. What are the differences between the Italian and the international market? How has your modus operandi changed to meet the growing demand without affecting your items quality?
X – Every country requires something different from us. We must stay focused on our standards and DNA without forgetting that we are Italian. The real challenge is to translate international needs into our language and craft a product that meets our clients expectations, in terms of quality and style. We work on different body fits and we always try to offer in our collections different themes and styles, in order to give a wide range of possibilities to our clients. Just imagine one thing… each of our collections can generate more than 50.000 different shirts!
FY! – Where, today, do you feel stronger?
X – The domestic market remains our solid base reflecting 60% of our sales. We are experiencing an interesting growth in Spain, Netherlands and the Scandinavian markets.
FY! – Black label: entirely sewed with single needle stitching as the best English tradition. Beluga washed: a new concept of “vintage-chic” shirt. Classic wash: the best revisited sartorial tradition. White label: Xacus’ research collection. And then, Travel Shirt and Evening. They are the six jewels of the Xacus Collections. Would you like to tell us about?
X – The most important thing in our business is to keep updated on different trends, and in order to do so it is very important to create a different segmentation. Black Label is a contemporary classic line, perfect for every day, with a suit at the office or with a nice pair of jeans. Developed on three body fits, evolution classic, custom tailor and slim fit. Beluga Washed is the ultimate signature of vintage-chic: in this line, our idea is to wash any material, delivering to our client a less formal shirt but with the same sartorial quality point. This line expresses itself through denim-indigo fabrics, flannels, printed materials and piece dyed shirts. Classic Wash is the new-born in our line-up, a revisited classic line, washed with mother of pearl buttons and soft collars and cuffs. A perfect match for the new generation of light sartorial jackets and suits. White Label focuses on slim fit and a lot of stretch materials. Small collars and sophisticated fabrics. Travel Shirt represents the ultimate signature of performance for a business shirt, you can wear it all day long without wrinkles. Perfect for managers who are always catching planes, who need to always look perfect in a suit. Evening is a special selection of styles focused on tuxedo shirts, for any elegant occasion.
FY! – Let’s talk about “My Concept”. It’s your ultimate signature line of customized, Made-To-Measure shirts representative of a great sartorial tradition and symbol of excellence, quality and style. Why is it crucial to support and exalt, in an absolutely modern key, the artisan taste of your shirts?
X – “My Concept” represents the center heart of our company production. A full personal service in making your own shirt, delivering a huge selection of options by focusing on a single client. It is a service that truly sums up the higher concept of our world… a customized product, made to meet the highest expectations. Our mission is to communicate such a tradition to attract new generations into a world that does not deserve to disappear, a world made of artisan work, experience, fabrics, stitching, collars, cuffs, yoke, embroideries and measurements.
FY! – Handmade, customized and purchasable at home through the Online Service. What is the role of the internet in your company and how much important is it for your items’ marketing?
X – Internet is the perfect tool to gather information. We want to show our world to the world and this channel of communication deserves our full attention. In our Company we deal with details and we would like our customers to feel them through our website and our upcoming e-shop.
FY! – To satisfy the consumer is the ultimate aim for Xacus. Who is your ideal customer, the one who best embodies the spirit of the brand?
X – A customer who is eager for quality, who look is curious about style. A passionate self-confident man that can express himself in a cosmopolite way.
FY! – Last question… Xacus dresses elegance but, today, what could we truly define elegant?
X – Being able to adapt yourself and your personal style to any occasion.
