Just behind the Pantheon It’s a tailor who has a huge claim: They dress Pope.
Since its origin of 1798—under the pontificate of Pius VI—the family-run Gammarelli The Vatican’s most powerful people have their wardrobes designed by this designer. It’s an important part of RomeIt is proud to be able to claim the production of the most divine liturgical garments for six generations including popes. bishops. cardinals. and priests.
Ecclesiastical tailoring is a niche art, and the tailor’s deep connection to the church is reflected in every stitch—each cassock (a priest’s uniform), for example, features hand-sewn buttonholes with 30 (or more) buttons, compared to the standard 6 found on a double-breasted suit. The Vatican’s exclusive outfitter is notified when new cardinals are appointed—and it’s the shop’s tailors who make their red robes. Right about now, when a conclave ends and a new pope is elected, it’s Gammarelli who crafts three sets of papal vestments—small, medium, and large, all in white—to have at the ready.
Gammarelli sells another collectible item that isn’t a collar or cloak: The socks. The decadent, clerical socks—available in mid-calf or knee-high pairs—are made from natural cotton lisle, pure silk, or ultra-soft merino wool. Cardinals are dressed in red. Bishops wear purple. Priests wear dark black. And the Pope completes his uniform with a white—always knee-high—pair of Gammarelli’s. These socks have found fans beyond the clergy, too—including French politicians François Fillon and Edouard Balladur. Anyone can walk into this unassuming shop and buy one of these unique and tried-and-true crafts from history.
It’s not just the Vatican connection that makes this tailor shop so popular. It’s the rare chance to witness a living tradition—while contemporary Rome, like many other cities, swirls with new fast fashion shops and high-end boutiques, Gammarelli remains proudly analog as a vessel of time, tradition, and slow tailoring. And with such high, or rather divine, standards, each and every papal garment from biretta to cassock is handmade for longevity—designed to uphold both Vatican apparel and high-standard craft ritual for decades at a time. Alessia Gambarelli is the current owner of the shop, and she is the first woman in the family to lead the business. This shows the changing tides, alongside the tradition.
You can nab this distinctly Roman souvenir by stopping into Gammarelli—or shop their online site Believe it or not, this brand ships internationally. Their socks are available online through Parisian staple Mes Chaussettes Rouges). You can also purchase if you want to be even more inspired. bright silk tiesSuper cute baby socksThe, and the a “Good Shepherd” chalice—just in case you need one.
