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FashionLifestyle

by Sophie She

Veneto’s Timeless Elegance: Peserico And the Art Of Italian Tailoring

6 Jul 2025

Started as a small tailoring workshop in Cornedo Vicentino in 1962, Peserico has grown into an emblem of Italian craftsmanship and refined luxury.
Today, under the guidance of CEO and Creative Director Riccardo Peruffo and his wife, Paola Gonella, the brand retains its deeply rooted heritage while stepping confidently onto the global stage.
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Veneto, Italy

First of all, “Cornedo Vicentino” — what is it?
It is a town in Italy. But for a brand like Peserico, Veneto is more than just a location — it is part of its identity.
Stretching from the Dolomite Mountains in the north to the Adriatic Sea in the south, Veneto is a region where tradition and innovation coexist in perfect balance. Its capital is Venice, the legendary floating city, but Veneto’s soul is also found in its smaller towns, like Cornedo Vicentino, where Peserico was born.
Veneto has long been a hub for artisans, particularly in textiles, tailoring, and leatherwork. The region’s deep-rooted textile heritage dates back centuries, with towns like Vicenza and Valdagno (where Riccardo Peruffo was born) known for their wool production and fine tailoring. This concentration of skill, knowledge, and generational craftsmanship has made Veneto a key player in the global fashion and luxury industry.
Beyond fashion, Veneto is also famed for being the home to Renaissance icons like Palladio and Titian. Fun fact to spotlight the balance of tradition and innovation — Titian, following his master Bellini, was one of the first artists who made exclusively oil artworks, which was quite a punk move at the time.
And coming back to our stars of the show, Veneto's heritage and sophistication is visible in every garment Peserico creates.
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Peserico, History

Peserico was born in 1962 in the quiet town of Cornedo Vicentino, nestled in Italy’s Veneto region, which you now know of.
Founded by Maria Peserico as a small workshop specialising in women’s trousers (which is surprising now), the brand quickly became known for its impeccable tailoring, fine fabrics, and "Made in Italy" ethos long before such qualities became global buzzwords.
What began with a focus on a single garment soon blossomed into a full-fledged fashion house. By the 1970s and ’80s, Peserico had grown into a structured company, yet it retained the values of its origins: attention to detail, artisanal precision, and understated elegance.
The brand's transformation accelerated when Maria’s son, Riccardo Peruffo, took the reins. A child of the atelier, Riccardo grew up immersed in the rhythm of tailoring and the language of craftsmanship. With his wife Paola Gonella, now Creative Director, the duo brought a new vision: to elevate Peserico into a global name while fiercely preserving its Italian soul.
Peserico has expanded into four distinct collections and a network of boutiques that stretch from Milan to New York and Dubai, and yet the company remains proudly rooted in Veneto, with all design and production still carried out in Italy.
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— Peserico has evolved from a small tailoring workshop into a globally recognised brand. How have your personal experiences growing up within the company shaped your vision for its international expansion and continued emphasis on "Made in Italy"?
Riccardo: Since I was a child, I spent my days at the company with my parents and all the people who have been part of it over the years. After completing my degree, I actively joined the company and initiated new phases of brand expansion together with my wife Paola. I have always envisioned
Peserico, as a leading luxury brand "Made in Italy" that is appreciated worldwide, has always guided me at every step. Every activity and investment has led us, over time, to create the luxury image and positioning that we are so proud of today.
— What sources of inspiration guided the ethereal and tactile aesthetic of the SS25 Aurea collection?
Riccardo: The Aurea Spring/Summer 2025 collection is inspired by the dream, seen as the primordial origin of every idea that takes shape. Not an escape, but a vision.
We set out to create pieces that evoke this dreamlike dimension, giving life to a collection that is luminous and delicate, where every detail reflects a feeling. Ethereal transparencies, light organza, delicate sequins, and subtle points of light are the signature elements of this season’s Aurea style.
Each fabric tells a fragment of a dream, transforming it into an experience of refined elegance and femininity. A celebration of beauty born from vision, shaped through light.
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— Like true Venetians, you draw inspiration from art, nature, and interior design. Can you share how these influences materialised in the specific design elements or textures?
Riccardo: The natural tones of our palette, the refined cornely stitching, the carefully woven organza, the sartorial elegance of our suits, and the meticulous craftsmanship in our knitwear details all contribute to defining an idea of understated luxury.
It is an aesthetic that reflects our creative universe, inspired by art in all its forms, the harmony of interior design, and the authentic beauty of the natural world that surrounds us.
— Do you have any favourite items in the collection? Why?
Paola: Yes, one of my favourite pieces is the knitwear featuring the Punto Luce detail. It perfectly embodies the values at the heart of Peserico — artisanal craftsmanship, refined elegance, and meticulous attention to detail.
This special technique is developed entirely in our own workshops, where fine yarns like wool, silk, and cashmere are woven with an exclusive inlay that creates a subtle yet luminous effect.
For me, the Punto Luce represents the harmony between innovation and tradition, and is a true symbol of Peserico’s quiet sophistication.
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Riccardo: Yes, I have a deep appreciation for denim pieces. Denim holds a special place in the history of Peserico as a symbol of our evolution. Our connection to denim dates back to the 1960s, when my mother, Maria Peserico, began a collaboration with Adriano Goldschmied, the pioneer of Italian jeans and “Godfather of denim”, as he calls himself. That partnership helped shape our identity, blending Venetian tailoring expertise with the timeless appeal of denim. Today, denim remains one of our favourite elements because it embodies both tradition and innovation. Each season, we reinterpret it with new cuts, washes, and sophisticated tones that reflect the Peserico aesthetic — clean, refined, and quietly elegant. Our denim pieces combine comfort, performance, and sartorial precision, making them essential items that effortlessly transition between casual and elevated looks.
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— What was your first signature piece that put Peserico on a global scale?
Riccardo: Our first signature piece that brought Peserico to global recognition was the 4718 trousers, a timeless and versatile design that embodies the vision of our founder, Maria Peserico.
Created by her in 1962, the 4718 quickly became an icon of the brand. Entirely made in Italy, this piece blends sartorial craftsmanship, refined materials, and a classic, easy-chic style.
Adaptable to every body shape and reinterpreted each season with new fabrics, colours, and prints, the 4718 remains a cornerstone of our collections and a symbol of enduring elegance and versatility.