In stark contrast to the often brutal nature of heavyweight boxing, Tyson Fury dances artfully against formidable opponents and exhibits an astonishing sartorial elegance navigating the media’s spotlight.
Navid Salimian, the creative maestro behind Fury’s dynamic suits, not only tailors his garments but also shapes the pugilist’s brand and narrative. This has been especially so as the anticipation builds for his forthcoming match against Francis Ngannou, the Cameroonian-French mixed martial artist, which will take place on Oct. 28 in Riyadh.
“This fight is more than just another boxing match. It’s a crossover mega-cultural event involving the MMA champion as well. Having this event as part of the vibrant Riyadh Season Festival, in the energetic pulse of Saudi Arabia, speaks volumes to the duality and cultural resonance of this encounter. Fury is fully attuned to this,” said Salimian.
Salimian, apart from being the architect behind The Gypsy King’s bespoke suits, is also increasingly a key confidant. Salimian spearheads his digital division and even features in Netflix’s TV show “At Home With The Furys,” which provides a window into the boxer’s family and professional life.
Every Fury bout begins before the contest in the ring, at the press conference, where the psychological battle is subtly fought and where Salimian’s creations unveil Fury’s unstated yet powerful messages.
The announcement of the Fury-Ngannou fight, held as part of a stunning spectacle featuring luminaries including supermodel Naomi Campbell and football star Rio Ferdinand, witnessed Fury in a suit designed specifically for the occasion. The creation depicted him as a Spartan warlord, narrating Fury’s story without uttering a single word.
Salimian, who leads the Claudio Lugli fashion brand, has been working with Fury since August 2015.
It all began when he answered an unlikely late-night call. The caller explained that British contender Fury was fighting Wladimir Klitschko and needed a suit for the occasion. Could he come to Morecambe?
There was just 18 hours before the weigh-in, where the suit would be worn.
“I scrambled up there, everything really packed into my car, uncertain about what would work on his heavyweight frame ... then Tyson, ducking to get in through his own front door, walked in,” said Salimian.
Fury and Salimian’s partnership, born out of an urgent need and a few inches of fabric, has grown into a shared understanding and respect.
“I am very aware that each garment is an indelible mark in sporting history. I actively try to get the pieces back to make sure we have an archive — for a book, museum or feature movie one day,” Salimian said in an exclusive interview with Arab News from Claudio Lugli’s bustling London office.
With roots that can be traced back to a Persian-Muslim family that ventured into Europe after the Iranian revolution, Salimian has meticulously woven his father’s exquisite Italian tailoring legacy into London’s fashion tapestry.
“My job is to take Tyson Fury’s vision, life stories, and even opponents and craft it into a suit. He often sends me voice notes, and just off his energy and quotes, I work on it and discuss his ideas with my wider team. We use premium fabrics only and make sure to stretch the limits of elastane and Lycra fabric so as not to prohibit his creative expression on stage, or in case an altercation breaks out,” said Salimian.
In the future Claudio Lugli aspires to blend its Italian tailoring finesse with the increasingly vibrant Middle East.
“What Saudi Arabia is doing with football’s Cristiano Ronaldo and boxing’s Tyson Fury is very exciting. Even people who have never heard of Vision 2030 understand that this is the globalization of sport like we have never seen before. It’s exciting from a creative perspective.”
