Paul Minichiello

Paul Minichiello (December 9, 1940 – August 1, 2014) was a master tailor who was a fixture in the Vancouver fashion scene for nearly five decades. He rose to prominence in the 1960s and 1970s by attracting a reputation for offering bold, bespoke tailored clothing that challenged more traditional and conservative approaches to men's fashion.

His work captured the attention of both local and international celebrities, including musicians Sonny Bono, Eric Clapton and Randy Bachman; and Wayne Gretzky; Jim Pattison and left control of the family business to his daughter, Julie Minichiello.

Early life

Paul Minichiello was born in 1940 in Civitanova del Sannio, a small town in the Italian Province of Isernia.

At the age of five he began sweeping floors in the workshop of a local tailor, but soon moved into the role of apprentice. Eight years later, at the age of 13, he finished his first suit, which he'd designed for his father, who was emigrating to Vancouver, Canada.

One year later Paul left Italy and followed his father, making a solo trek to Vancouver. Upon arrival he immediately began working at a variety of local tailors in order to help pay the way for his mother, brothers and sisters to join them. Prior to this he'd worked for nine years at Tip Top Tailors, a variety of local tailor shops, and for a brief stint at Louis Roth's fashion manufacturing company in Los Angeles.

By the time he started his own shop Paul had developed his own unique style, and was making a name for himself as a trendsetter with a style that "appealed greatly to the young and hip 20-35 demographic."

Another incident, in 1978, saw Eric Clapton in town, though Paul was less inclined to bend over backwards. Clapton said he wanted Paul to come to where he was staying and measure him for a white fur parka, to which Paul replied: "If he can’t come down to my store, like everyone else, to hell with him, whoever he is."

His work was particularly popular among players in the National Hockey League. The trend began with players on the local team, the Vancouver Canucks, who in turn served as de facto travelling salesmen whose flashy bespoke suits started catching the eye of other players around the league.

Bobby Hull, Dennis Ververgaert are counted among some of his most devoted fans, with Korab and Quinn in particular ordering all of their suits exclusively from Paul throughout the remainder of their careers. For three years in a row during this time period, Korab was picked as the NHLs Best Dressed Player.