Cicchini Custom Clothier

In 1940, Paul Cicchini traveled on the last ship, before the war, from the Abruzzi region of Italy to Detroit. Upon arrival, his father put him to work at a tailor shop in downtown Detroit, where he became a skilled craftsman. After serving in the Army during World War II, Cicchini returned to Detroit and opened Paul Cicchini Custom Tailoring in 1949 on West Adams Street, east of Woodward Avenue, in the Kales Building. Current owner, Rick DePanicis, purchased Cicchini Custom Clothier from its founder in 1989, though Cicchini still works in the shop every day. Today, the bespoke clothier, located on Old Woodward Avenue in downtown Birmingham, Michigan, is one of just a handful of such shops in the U.S. It has grown to 30 employees trained by Cicchini in style, measurement and construction.
From the beginning, Cicchini was successful. In a short time, he earned a stellar reputation in Michigan and beyond. His satisfied clients, who understood the personal and professional benefits of a well-made suit, recommended him to friends and colleagues and, within a few years, he was known as one of the very best. “People would stop and ask our clients, ‘Who made your suit?’ and before long, we had built a highly successful business,” says Cicchini. To be closer to where many of these clients resided, Cicchini moved his business to Birmingham in the early 1970s. Mr. Cicchini is one of only five professional tailors who have earned the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Custom Tailors and Designers Association in its 125-year history.
Rick DePanicis, an experienced custom clothier, knew well of Cicchini’s expertise and reputation. In 1989, he purchased the business and immediately personally trained with him in styling, measuring and construction. DePanicis added a second tailor shop, and expanded the offerings, introducing high-end clothing, shoes and accessories. Through the years, the 1,200-square-foot, second-floor shop more than doubled in size after moving to a street-level retail space, and now has grown to occupy a corner location with 6,000 square feet where Cicchini’s dedicated staff takes pride in dressing businessmen and women, celebrities, athletes and clients from around the U.S. in style.