Step into the exquisitely elegant world of E.Marinella

Words: Jonathan Wells

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Throughout history, the most distinguished leaders, rulers and royals have sought to champion the wares and commodities of their countries. When travelling to neighbouring nations, for example, Ottoman sultans would give the gift of fine silk robes. Japanese emperors would take cherry blossom trees on their overseas visits. Even Fidel Castro would always box up some of Cuba’s best Cohiba cigars.

But the greatest of these diplomatic gifts? They were given by Italian President Francesco Cossiga, who would bestow a box filled with five E. Marinella neckties to every head of state he met. Over the years, official visits saw King Charles III, Boris Yeltsin, Barack Obama, Prince Albert of Monaco and even John F. Kennedy introduced to the brand, with magnates and moguls from Gianni Agnelli to Aristotle Onassis also slipping on the brand’s silk ties.

Thankfully, the luxury label — founded by Eugenio Marinella in 1914 — is no longer the preserve of the powers that be. For, earlier this year, E. Marinella opened its first outpost in the heart of London. And, sitting on Mayfair’s Burlington Arcade, the new store brings the brand full circle; when Eugenio opened his historic shop in Naples over a century ago, the businessman sourced every building material (down to the door jambs) from England.

Burlington Arcade, then — where the new boutique will open its doors every morning at 9 o’clock sharp — is the perfect fit for E. Marinella. Trimly typifying the brand’s blend of Italian style and English elegance, the iconic concourse offers the ideal place to showcase the scarves, silks, ties and textiles produced by the Italian institution.

The store itself is a cacophony of colour; stocked and stacked high with a huge range of the brand’s offerings. A wrought-iron spiral staircase wends its way through the middle of the space, and expert staff are on hand to guide you through the silk-smooth world of Italy’s finest accessories. The place will even play host to regular trunk shows, during which seamstresses from Naples will visit and temporarily set up shop.

These shows will give customers the chance to have their own bespoke ties cut and sewn on site; a tailor-made touch that means you’ll also find reams and rolls of fine fabrics in the Burlington-based store.

But the real draw, clearly, is the selection of ready-to-wear ties; expertly cut, stylishly stitched and crafted to last a lifetime. The raw silk used by the brand continues to be handmade in Italy, and subjected to an extra treatment to give it a unique high-shine. The techniques, too, are as traditional as those used by any tiemaker; artisanal and continuously honed since the first tie was stitched into being in 1914.

It’s not just ties, however. The Burlington-based boutique has also seen a spike in the popularity of pocket squares; each one hand-finished, detailed with the brand’s renowned name and offered by E. Marinella in a whole spectrum of prints and patterns. There’s also more niche pieces of neckwear on offer, whether that be a traditional bow tie or a rakishly casual cravat.

Scarves, too, are selling hot as the weather turns cold. Whether they’re woven from silk or wool, and adorned with either neat checks or bold geometric designs, the Italian brand is the best place to pop into if you’re feeling the chill. We particularly like the cashmere ‘Neck Warmers‘, at their best in two-tone colourways and as versatile as they are practical.

There’s even a small selection of E. Marinella’s leather goods stocked, including pebble-grain briefcases and deerskin backpacks. But the best leather accessory is surely the magnetic-closing, smooth-textured ‘Tie Holder’, which holds up to four of the Italian brand’s neckties in snug, secure style. It’ll imbue your ties with that rich aroma of leather — similar to the brand’s heady, heavy ‘100 Eau de Parfum Intense’, a silky smooth fragrance also available in the new boutique.

The whole elegant experience is just one boldly-brewed espresso away from the authentic Neapolitan article. And, given its prime position on Burlington Arcade — within walking distance of Savile Row’s sartorial smarts — you’ll be able to offer your wardrobe the best of both formalwear worlds.

It’s no wonder, then, that Italy’s president would always pack a selection of silk ties on his diplomatic travels. Because, with E. Marinella’s ambassadorial poise and stately quality, the brand is a true world leader — and one that you can now, fortunately, discover on your doorstep.

Looking for more modern gentlemanly accessories? Here are the best leather wallets to buy…

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