RIPA RIPA
Dulcis in fundo autumn is officially here and we look back at this somewhat odd summer season that’s flown away and left many of us with a so sang by Mina, Tintarella Di Luna (moon-tan). If you’re like most people, you probably still need an actual vacation!
Hopefully you kept yourself active and there are still plenty of locations where you can show off that beach-body ready of yours in October!
Now all it’s left to do is to find the perfect pieces for your late ocean dips, pool resort swims or why not, a couple of Spa days away from the city.
So this summer we took the task of finding the best swim wear brand for the boys out there! We tested it literally across the whole country of its origin, Italy, spanning from the Ligurian Riviera, to the Amalfi Coast, to the heel of Italy Puglia and even the Riviera Romagnola!
Founded in Milano, Ripa Ripa stands out for its Mediterranean feel inspired by the Italian sixties and is a brand that is equal parts classy, elegant, and bold! 6 years of activity in a very competitive market and Ripa Ripa is already seen on the feeds of some of (in our opinion) the most stylish gentlemen with a sharp eye for sartorial detail that we like to follow, like Nicola Radano, Fabio Attanasio and Carlos Domínguez to name a few.
If you’re looking for that perfect label that no matter the countless trends turns, you’ll always be able to wear proudly, you really need to look no further.
We spent this summer in Italy always accompanied by the inseparable duo Maestrale swimshort and linen shirt Elba.
The Maestrale, just like the other shorts, reminds of a classic drawstring swimsuit but redesigned for a tailored cut. It comes in 3 different pastel color palettes, blue red and green and if you look closely you’ll notice that the tile-like design is hand painted and then printed onto the shorts. The team has also managed to find the perfect quick-drying synthetic fabric that is ring-spun and brushed, making it both soft and look and feel just like cotton.
The color we picked is Celeste/Verde and it almost seems like it changes tones based on the light. During the day, the shorts look more Sky-blue, but it’s during the golden hour that you really get those green, almost emerald tones and we’re obsessed with it!
The Elba shirt Sabbia, in 100% Italian linen, suited a hot day at the beach in Polignano a Mare as much as it did in a fancy Italian restaurant in Portofino. This 1960s inspired vintage cut wears light and relaxed and its linen will get softer and supple the more you’ll wear it.
It’s hard to say what we love most about Ripa Ripa, if the high quality materials used for their products or the Vintage inspired designs and colors.
But perhaps it’s the transparency of the business and the fact that the garments are created and sewn together in a laboratorio in a small town at the foot of the Vesuvio, Portici. The atelier is managed by 2 young locals Salvatore and Luigi and each piece always needs to follow a final check by Angela, the head of the atelier, so you know that every single stitch on your shirt and swimshorts was carefully looked after by a team of people, rather than a bunch of automated machines.
We must always appreciate brands who, in days like these, where everything is mass-produced, strive to do everything they can to sustain local communities and keep quality, rather than quantity in their minds.
You can read more of their story and how the garments are carefully crafted in Italy on their website and if you, like us, are all about those Mediterranean vibes, make sure you give them a follow on Instagram too.
