Sanyo Shokai has a license agreement with FRANCO PRINZIVALLI, a Milan-based, Italian-based tailored suit brand. The flagship store, the Ginza store, opened in the Ginza Belvia building on March 20th. An opening party was held on April 4th, and Franco Prinzivali himself visited Japan.
The FRANCO PRINZIVALLI Ginza store replaced the Aoyama store, which closed in 2012 due to the demolition of the building. The dark brown interior evokes the image of a Milan atelier, with a custom-made salon space in the back. The store offers formal wear consisting of suits, shirts, and ties, pursuing the world of tailored suits. Approximately 60% of the items are exclusive to the Ginza store and not sold at other stores. Ready-to-wear prices start at 150,000 yen (with some exceptions), and custom orders typically cost over 150,000 yen. Prinzivali commented, "I'm very honored because Ginza is such a prestigious location. I'm a bit worried because the rent is probably high (laughs). Tailoring isn't just fashion, it's standard wear made possible by artisanal techniques. In Italy, people have been wearing less formal styles since 2000, and artisans are disappearing rapidly. Meanwhile, Franco Prinzivali is becoming more well-known in Japan, and I'm very happy to be able to share my tailoring techniques and know-how with so many enthusiastic young artisans." When asked for a message for Japan, he charmingly replied, "We work hard for our customers, and because our clothes are genuine, we won't let you down. Please trust us." This year marks the 70th anniversary of Sanyo Shokai's founding, and under the slogan "TIMELESS WORK: Let's make truly great things," the company is focusing on passing on timeless designs to the next generation and improving maintenance and after-sales service. Franco Prinzivali's store expansion reflects this trend. "Last year, ties sold well among people in their 20s and 30s. The younger generation finds a more formal style more refreshing than casual styles like Cool Biz, and suits are making a comeback. We at Sanyo Shokai feel a responsibility to introduce authentic suits," explains the company.
