Trevelyan's Mainframe / FILE: Suits, Brioni [Thirty years removed]

It seems you’ve decided to smarten up your garb with this file, old boy.

Our operatives, as well as opposite British Military Intelligence operatives, have been dressed to impress in Brioni suits for years. Blending old-style class with modern looks, Brioni has continually brought high-end, Italian-made pieces to the forefront of fashion. That said, the following is what we have on Brioni suits, thirty years removed from their pieces being featured in GOLDENEYE:

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Operative: Janus

File: Brioni Suits

Report From: Italy

Lat: 43.7700 N

Long: 11.2577 E

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TREVELYAN:

Founded back in Rome in 1945, Brioni has since become a staple in fashion and film. As I’m sure you’re well aware, for nearly two decades, Brioni suits were the go-to for Agent 007 of the British Secret Service. I suppose, if there is one detail James and I can both agree on, it’s our taste in apparel.

James Bond was introduced to Brioni suits by GOLDENEYE costume designer Lindy Hemming, who originally envisioned James Bond in suits that oozed sheer luxury and expensiveness. Several options presented themselves, however due to GOLDENEYE’s tight shooting schedule, Hemming also expressed the need of tailoring on the fly and the production of many suits rather quickly.

Ultimately meeting such demands and having the very look that was aimed for, Brioni was chosen.

Pierce Brosnan sporting an iconic Brioni blazer during GOLDENEYE's promotional run.

Following Brioni’s grand showing in GOLDENEYE, the company would again lend several high-end pieces to the following James Bond film, 1997’s TOMORROW NEVER DIES. James Bond would once again don Brioni suits, often tied together with Turnbull & Asser or Sulka dress ties and pairs of dress shoes provided by Church’s.

Sharp choices indeed, James.

If you can afford them...

The year 1999 would see James Bond again fitted in Brioni for the majority of that year’s film, THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH. This would further establish Brioni’s image with Bond as his definitive suits of choice. The partnership would continue through Pierce Brosnan’s fourth and final James Bond film, DIE ANOTHER DAY in 2002.

After a strong relationship with the James Bond franchise for nearly a decade, Brioni would disappear from the silver screen for a few years, deciding to lean in other creative directions. Thus, Bond and Brioni's partnership would be left on hold, coinciding with Bond's disappearance from major motion pictures for nearly half a decade.

Our file picks back up in 2006. In a twist of fate, Brioni would be one of the few elements from the Brosnan era of James Bond that made it into the franchise's reboot. Brioni would dress the next James Bond, actor Daniel Craig, during his announcement press conference. Craig would be graced with some of Brioni's finest during his debut outing as the ill-fated, rebooted Agent 007 in that year’s film, CASINO ROYALE.

Data suggest that previous to CASINO ROYALE's release, a special Bond-themed tuxedo was released by Brioni in a few select stores to promote the long-standing partnership, as well as the new film. The tuxedo would fall right around the three-thousand pound range and include a repeated 007 logo stitched into the silver lining of the jacket.

What a perfect piece for those who like to pose as Her Majesty’s loyal terrier. Also, reportedly, everyone at the table during those poker scenes in CASINO ROYALE were outfitted by Brioni. How’s that for a uniform look?

James Bond, Le Chiffre, and others locked in a fierce game of poker in 2006's CASINO ROYALE.

After 2006, Brioni and Bond would mutually part ways, ushering in the era of Tom Ford for every other EON-produced instalment moving forward. The following year, Brioni would be named as the most prestigious men’s luxury brand in America by the Luxury Institute of New York (the company would be rewarded with the same distinction again in 2011). Brioni's revenue continued to climb yearly, with well over one-hundred and eight million Euros in sales in 2007 alone. Needless to say, their suits continue to make a pretty penny annually.

According to this mainframe, things would remain relatively steady for the company until 2012, when Brioni would be acquired by the French luxury goods holding company, Kering. This would mark a new phase of development and management for the fashion house. Under the new creative direction of Brendan Mullane, Brioni would begin to further develop and manufacture ready-to-wear collections., as well as leather goods, shoes, eyewear, and fragrances.

Today, Brioni continues on as a staple in men’s fashion and luxury clothing. Brioni suits have been modelled by Samuel L. Jackson, Pierce Brosnan, Brad Pitt, Jude Law, Orlando Bloom, and more for advertising campaigns. Casual wearers include the likes of Tom Cruise, Zac Efron, Leonardo DiCaprio, Oscar Isaac, and dozens more in film, television, and music. A rather impressive list, I must admit.

Side notes on the Brioni brand are rather generalized from what we've been able to gather.

Our research suggests that Brioni products are distributed globally across Europe, Asia, and America through directly-owned, private boutiques and a healthy network of department stores. Dedicated Brioni specific stores are slightly scarce, however. Data suggests less than fifty exclusively dedicated stores remain around the world.

This mainframe concludes that opposite numbers fitted in Brioni often have the status, as well as the means to do so. That said, these individuals must be approached with extreme caution. Janus is currently in the process of fitting our own operatives in such pieces, standard issue. Status on that initiative will be updated shortly.

That concludes our file on Brioni and its luxury suits.

At the very least, you’ve been well briefed on how opposite operatives may appear.

Keep aware of our enemies.

After all, only the sharpest agents will be dressed to kill.

-TREVELYAN

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