luigi greco
Beginning his career as a tailor while he was still a boy in Italy, Luigi Greco would eventually set off to Milan at the age of 17 to further study the art of tailoring at the academy (while simultaneously spending his nights working for local tailors to pay for his schooling). After practicing his trade in Italy for many years, he made his journey to Canada in 1971. Luigi quickly found work and would come to manage some of the best suit companies in the country, culminating in his partnership with Vince D’Elia and their acquisition of Balfour Clothing in 1987. Marking the onset of a new beginning for the company, Luigi both continued the tradition established, as well as developed the retail made to measure business. Accounts slowly accumulated as he began to approach retailers to manufacture their custom suits, inciting the transition from retail to wholesale. Having had experience in both markets, Luigi began to cultivate a team (followed by the interim departure of his partner, Vince; and bookmarked by the arrival of his son, John, joining the company to provide accounting and business knowledge). Today, the Balfour team has grown into a family, elevated by a strong dealer network across North America, and growing under the supervision of master tailor and designer Luigi Greco.
john greco
The son of Luigi Greco, John Greco grew up with the art of tailoring, helping his father even as a child. From the age of 15, John would work at various retailers not related to clothing (while concurrently attending school). His work in retail continued until his graduation from university, culminating in his reception of a business degree, and followed by his work in an accounting firm. Departing after 2 years at the accounting firm, John’s exit coincided with his father’s partner, Vince D’Elia, departing from Balfour Clothing. With a fated timing, and a heritage of tailoring in his blood, John began work with his father at Balfour Clothing. Utilizing his accounting background, he started helping in sales and began making changes. Coming to understand the intricacies of the process, and accumulating experience selling thousands of custom suits directly to the consumer, John was armed with the skills to help further move the business towards wholesale. With a specialty in effectively servicing dealers, as well as a mind for business and development, the resulting satisfaction of growing a business with good spirit is of the utmost importance to John.
Vince d'elia
Growing up in Salerno, Italy, Vince D’Elia started apprenticing at a tailor shop at the age of 9. He developed his abilities over the years until he immigrated to Canada at the age of 18 to further pursue his tailoring career. In Canada, Vince began his work at Firth Bros as the quality and production manager of the coat shop. This was followed by his bout as manager of the pant shop at Tuxedo Junction. These experiences allowed Vince to develop his career in the direction to become a designer; and after becoming an assistant designer at Coppley in 1976, followed by becoming a member of the International Association of Clothing Designers and Executives in 1984, his dream was finally fulfilled. In 1987, Vince purchased Balfour Clothing alongside Luigi Greco (who he had been working with for about 3 years). His tenure at Balfour Clothing was going well until the recession of the 1990’s, forcing Vince to step away from the business and return to Coppley as a head designer. After many years, and 4 IACDE awards, Vince returned to Balfour Clothing in 2010, introducing the computer-aided design program and establishing it as it operates today. Vince’s sense of pride and passion is derived from making a client a well-fitting garment, and the unique challenge of a proper fit is what fuels that love.
umberto dall'agnese
Being the 5th generation from a tailoring family, Umberto Dall’Agnese would always hang around his father’s tailor shop. Quickly becoming fascinated with the creation of every specific suit for each unique customer, Umberto officially began working at his father’s personal shop at the age of 13 (while working his summers with his father at Weston Apparel). Beginning as an assistant designer, and later becoming the head designer, Umberto worked at Tip Top Tailors full-time for 25 years. His time at Tip Top Tailors was followed by 3 years working at Sartoria Momento in Toronto, as well as 4 years operating his own custom tailor shop. In time, Umberto would come to join the team at Balfour Clothing. He felt that, together with John Greco, they could create something wholly unique that is sorely absent in the North American custom tailoring houses: high-quality construction with high-fashion fitted garments. And it is this high-quality construction and styling in the Neapolitan style that is precisely Umberto’s speciality. It is a speciality derived specifically from Umberto’s love for fashion, and his love for making people feel and look good in their personalized style.