Gammarelli

The papal tailors shop, Gammarelli in Rome

Gammarelli (full name Ditta Annibale Gammarelli) is the official tailor of the pope. The shop opened in 1798 and is located in Rome.

History

Gammarelli began in 1798 when Giovanni Antonio Gammarelli opened the shop.[1] It has tailored for the popes since then. It has been run by the same family for 6 generations.[2]

After Giovanni, his son Filippo took over the shop, and then Filippo's son, Annibale, succeeded his father. In 1874, Annibale moved the shop from its original location to its current spot on Via Santa Chiara 34. It is located in the same building as the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy.[3] Annibale's sons Bonaventura and Giuseppe renamed the shop "Ditta Annibale Gammarelli". Bonaventura's son Annibale took over from his father, followed by the sixth generation of the family: Maximillian, Lorenzo and Stefano Paolo.[4] Pope Pius XII (1939-1958) is the only pope who selected a different tailor during his papacy.[5]

In 2000, the shop was included in the list of historic shops of Rome.[4]

In 2016, the sixth generation of Gammarellis assumed leadership of the shop.[3]

Activities

Gammarelli makes zucchettos and galeros (the wide-brimmed, tasseled hat that was formerly worn by cardinals and other high-ranking prelates). Gammarelli also sells world-famous red socks. The sign on the front of the shop says Sartoria Per Ecclesiastici (clerical outfitters).[6]

The staff is composed of a dozen workers (2003).[2]

The tradition of bestowing a galero to the cardinal when he entered the College of Cardinals was replaced with the presentation of a zucchetto after the Second Vatican Council. When a Cardinal dies, at a "Month's Mind", a requiem mass held a month after his death, the galero is raised to the ceiling of their cathedral to stay until it falls or deteriorates. In addition to popes and cardinals, it serves many archbishops, bishops, monsignors, and other prelates and priests.[7]

  • Display window of Gamarelli during the 2005 sede vacante
    Display window of Gamarelli during the 2005 sede vacante
  • Vestments of a cardinal in the shop of Gammarelli
    Vestments of a cardinal in the shop of Gammarelli

References

  1. ^ "Our history". Gammarelli.com.
  2. ^ a b Nayeri, Farah (25 December 2003). "Catholic Clergy's Clothes Industry a Bit Threadbare". Los Angeles Times. Bloomberg News. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  3. ^ a b Harris, Elise (2016-07-15). "Gammarelli legacy passes to sixth generation of papal tailors". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 2019-12-23.
  4. ^ a b "About us". Gammarelli.com. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  5. ^ Trebay, Guy (8 March 2013). "When the Pope Is Chosen, His Tailors Will Be Ready". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  6. ^ Cooke, Kieran (21 August 2004). "The Pope's new clothes". BBC News. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  7. ^ Pashman, Manya Brachear (17 May 2015). "Cardinal George's red hat rises to Holy Name rafters". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
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