Paolo Modolo entered the tailoring world as a child, at 11 years old and with zero pay; for this work, which was an apprenticeship, no salary was expected—only perhaps a word of thanks for having earned the opportunity. From 8 in the morning until 10 at night, there was plenty of time to learn everything. Marriage and the responsibility of supporting a family had taken him to the mines, but his passion for sewing remained, so strong that he eventually opened his own tailor shop. It was 1962: from dawn until four in the afternoon he mined talc with a pickaxe, and until late at night, his calloused hands became light and precise, guiding the needle to sew clothes for the entire town. Sleeping little but dreaming big, he reached retirement at 49 and was finally able to dedicate himself entirely to what was his true craft. Paolo, “the king of velvet,” passed away in 2024 after bringing his art to the runways of Milan, London, and Tokyo, and into the wardrobes of many famous figures, professionals from Sardinia and all over Italy, and countless people who simply love well-made, bespoke clothes crafted from top-quality fabrics. His legacy has been taken up by his son Francesco, who keeps it alive and grows it with equal passion and skill: from Sartoria Modolo come the finest velvet garments, made to the client’s measurements and hand-stitched down to the last detail, indestructible orbace coats (some weighing up to four kilograms) made from the wool of Sardinian sheep. There are also hats, shirts in linen and cotton, and clothing for women’s wardrobes. The tailor shop’s reputation has crossed the island’s borders: shepherd’s trousers are now requested everywhere.