Twin brothers Pio & Francesco were born in Sardinia, Italy in 1976.
From an early age the pair found themselves immersed in the world of tailoring, with their Uncle earning a living as tailor, and almost all their Aunties working as seamstresses, leading the boys to developing an organic interest in the art form, that later developed into a passion – with Pio completing a pattern cutting course at the London College of Fashion, and Francesco finishing his tailoring studies with top marks at Barcelona’s Catalan Association of Tailors.
In 2010 the brothers set up their own business Pinnas & Needles in the heart of Soho, London – performing top class repair and alteration work (on both mens and womenswear), specialising in technical garments, and working with established brands including Stone Island, CP Company, Moncler and Canada Goose.
We caught up with Pio & Francesco for the latest in our ‘My London’ interview series.
Favourite neighbourhood:
Brixton – its has a real, rural neighbourhood vibe to it! It’s a bit rough around the edges, and we like that.
Favourite place for brunch:
The Ivy Brasserie in Soho, it has cheaper prices than The Ivy and welcomes more of an informal with dress code.
Best coffee in London:
Pinnas and Needles, so far the best Nespresso in the area!
Favourite gallery or museum:
The Tate Modern – it always has great exhibitions, and wonderful galleries to view, plus the building itself is just a wonderful place to visit.
Tell us a secret:
Our building used to be a brothel many years ago!
Favourite place to shop:
TKMaxx! We always find good pieces there… although you do have to spend hours sieving through everything.
Favourite place to find inspiration:
A trip to Brighton, because the seafront will open up your mind, and the lanes are full of cool people and small independent shops.
Best London destination for a date:
Kew Gardens, because if the date ends up being awkward, you can always enjoy and be amazed by the beauty of the plants and architecture.
Favourite park:
Brockwell Park, because it has everything – restaurants, ponds with birds, playground for kids and lots of different landscapes to explore.
Favourite food market:
Herne Hill Sunday market. It’s always buzzing with people, with a huge variety of locally produced goods.
Your sanctuary in the city:
St. James Park – once you’re in, you’ll forget the chaos of the city.
What inspires you?
Our customers, all with they’re unique way of dressing, we get inspired by they’re story they bring with they’re garments.
This season I’m loving:
“It’s A Sin” on Channel 4 – it’s such a poignant true story about the HIV pandemic.
