brioni was established in rome in 1945 as a men's tailoring company by founders nazareno fonticoli, a tailor, and gaetano savini, an entrepreneur. they opened their first shop on via barberini 79, naming the brand after the formerly italian brionian islands (now part of croatia); the shop is still at the same address. brioni quickly started to raise interest from high-profile movie business personalities, heads of state and business leaders.