Tailor-to-the-stars Michael Lemetti plans to present Godfather movie legend Al Pacino with a new tartan wardrobe to commemorate his first stage appearance in Scotland.
Pacino will talk about his incredible film career at the Clyde Auditorium in Glasgow on May 19. Michael, boss of clothing firm Clan Italia, is producing a custom-made jacket, waistcoat, scarf, tie and even a bunnet to gift to the Oscar-winner.
In 2004, Michael, from Falkirk, created the unique Italian National Tartan. He has dressed a string of celebrities with Italian links including pop singer Paolo Nutini, opera star Andrea Bocelli and violinist Nicola Benedetti. He even made a range of St. Ninian’s Day tartan items for the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Scotland in 2010. 
Michael with singer Paolo Nutini
His clothes have also been worn by the AC Milan football side, which included his mate World Cup winner Rino Gattuso and David Beckham. And when the Italian rugby team played Scotland at Murrayfield in 2005 they were escorted on to the field by 15 mascots all decked out in his tartan kilts.
It’s 10 years since Michael came up with the idea that Italians should have a tartan of their own.
What makes his success even more remarkable is that he does not have a rag trade background he lives in Falkirk with his wife and two sons and runs his family fish and chip shop, Lemetti’s.
He is of third
generation Italian descent with roots in Lucca, Tuscany.
Michael said: “I’m a very proud Scots-Italian and have always worn tartan. Several years ago, I visited New York with a friend and we both wore kilts. One night we were in the Waldorf Astoria Hotel and a guy in the bar said: ‘Why are you guys wearing skirts?’
“He was an Italian-American and said we should have a tartan of our own. So I came up with a blue tartan and it turned out so well it became the first approved ethnic tartan in Scotland. It was endorsed by the Italian government they loved it.
“I became friends with Rino Gattuso when he played for Rangers and he asked me to make him a tartan coat for his wedding to a Scots girl. I kept in touch when he moved to AC Milan. When they visited Glasgow to play a friendly with Rangers, I went to their hotel and gave David Beckham a tartan bag for his wife, Victoria. He was a lovely guy.”
Michael withNicola Benedetti
One of Michael’s biggest challenges came in 2012 when he made a kilt for crooner Michael Buble at just three hours notice. The singer was a special guest on Rod Stewart’s Christmas TV special being filmed at Stirling Castle. He said: “Michael is half-Italian too so I was desperate to kit him out.
“I only found out his measurements on the morning of his performance and had the kilt made within three hours. To have him rave about my tartan was fantastic.”
He added: “I’m not a tailor by trade. I was having a bit of a mid-life crisis and instead of buying a cab I created a tartan. The most important thing for me is to work with the top people in Scotland.
“Four years ago, I attended the Dressed To Kilt event in New York where Paolo Nutini wore one of my tartan suits on stage. I also made him a tweed jacket and waistcoat. I’ve known his father Alfredo for years he runs a chip shop too.”
The Scot is a huge Al Pacino fan so it will be a real labour of love to make a tartan outfit for the man who shot to superstardom as a Mafia boss in The Godfather.
He said: “I’ll make him a range of items kilt, trousers, waistcoat, ties and even a bunnet whatever he feels most comfortable with. It would be such a thrill if he wore my clothes. He’s always been a real hero of mine.
“Al turned 75 last month so this is my birthday present. For him to wear my tartan would be the icing on the cake. It’s the ultimate you can’t get any higher than that.”
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