Michael Isaacson of Tulliano – Proving That Through the Years, Good Taste Combined with Hard Work Pays Off Big!
A visit to Tulliano will do most entrepreneurs a world of good. They will see what a combination of hard work, talent, and exacting taste can get them, and in Michael Isaascon’s case—a lot of money, and extreme satisfaction.
I met Michael, the exclusive founder and designer of Tulliano, last year. He donated some of his garments for a film. The wardrobe department needed upscale attire. When I visited Tulliano and was given a brief tour of the buzzing showroom, there were so many options. And back then Michael gave me his energetic rundown of his line that season. The shirts and pants possessed an understated classiness, refinement, sophistication of the mature, well-traveled, well-cultured male; and I knew that Agenda Magazine would be featuring this inspired designer one season.
Very recently, a day before Las Vegas’s Magic Show, Michael took the time to give me the grand tour of his warehouse while planning to leave the very next day. Hundreds of packaged boxes were laid out everywhere. There were aisles upon aisles of shirts, pants, sweaters, etc. Michael eagerly showed me how exclusive his designs were.
This is boiled wool. I’m one of the few people who manufacture it.
Boiled wool is a version of felted wool, but more dense usually shrunken knit fabric. Boiled wool is a softer drape than wool felt (True felt doesn’t use any bonding agents—the fibers matte together from friction and pressure).
—Sewing Q&A, Marla Stefanellii—
I hadn’t seen much boiled wool in my experience.
He had me feel the fabrics and showed me the multiple shirt and pant combinations. We walked down one aisle where pre-filled orders were stacked one on top of the other while a truck had just pulled away from the loading dock, carrying pallets of orders.
My daughter and I were touring Rome. When I saw this sign I asked our tour guide what it meant. He said, “It comes from the Roman God Tullio.” In the Roman days they brought
water to the mountain from Rome by way of a viaduct [a bridge], which was called a Tulliano. So that’s what it means. I took pictures of a lot of names, but that particular one stayed. I registered the name Tullio, too.
Besides working really hard, what advice would you give to someone who is starting a business?
Become a doctor! (He laughs). You have to have a passion for what you do. You have to love what you do when you get up in the morning. If you don’t, then you just have a job. You have to have some ability to go with it, but you have to be driven, and not everybody’s driven.
Tulliano can be found at retailers all over the world. Their warehouse is located at 1375 Washington Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90021. For more information contact them at 213-749-3388.
Interview by Kaylene Peoples
