Inside the World of Tuxedo Yachting House With Francesco and Laura Ceccarelli

The story of the Ceccarelli family is inextricably linked to the golden era of Italian shipbuilding. It began in 1962 when Aldo Ceccarelli, captivated by the beauty of vessels in Liguria, acquired his first shipyard. From the iconic Ghibli brand in the 1970s to the 1982 launch of the Admiral 22, Italy’s first aluminium yacht, Aldo was a visionary who proved that durability and elegance could coexist.

Since 1998, his children, Laura and Francesco Ceccarelli, are carrying this heritage forward into a new era. In 2020, they founded Tuxedo Yachting House, a brand that distills decades of technical expertise into a contemporary, 'measured' form of luxury. 

By blending the industrial precision of aluminum with the artistic soul of Milan, they have created the Tuxedo 40, a yacht that is as much a design statement as it is a tribute to a family legacy. 

The following interview explores their vision for the future of yachting and the enduring influence of their heritage.

YOUR FAMILY HAS PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN ITALIAN YACHT BUILDING FOR MORE THAN SIX DECADES. HOW DID GROWING UP IN THE CECCARELLI FAMILY SHAPE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SEA AND WITH BOATBUILDING?
Growing up in the Ceccarelli family meant living in an environment where boating was an integral part of everyday life. The sea was not merely a place to visit, but a constant reference point, a beginning and an end. From a very young age, we observed processes, materials, and technical solutions up close, naturally absorbing a deep respect for the water and for the culture of 'doing things well.' This early immersion shaped our design sensitivity and our way of understanding what a boat is: not simply an object, but a way of life.

YOUR FATHER, ALDO CECCARELLI, WAS A PIONEER OF ALUMINIUM YACHT CONSTRUCTION IN ITALY. WHAT ASPECTS OF HIS VISION STILL GUIDE YOUR WORK TODAY?
Our father's pioneering approach remains a constant reference for us. His decision to work with aluminium, at a time when the material was considered unusual in the Italian boating world, reflected his determination to push beyond established limits. From him, we inherited a belief in innovation, a curiosity for unconventional solutions, and the conviction that technology should always enhance the onboard experience. Today, we pursue the same principles: updating, evolving, and experimenting, while fully respecting tradition and construction quality.

THE NAME TUXEDO SUGGESTS TIMELESS ELEGANCE AND A REFINED SENSE OF LUXURY. WHAT IS THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND THE BRAND?
The Tuxedo brand was born from the idea of an essential, measured, and contemporary form of luxury. The name deliberately evokes an image of elegance that requires no ostentation, but expresses itself through the purity of lines, the care for detail, and an overall sense of balance that endures over time. Our boats are conceived as coherent and recognizable objects, capable of adapting to the most diverse contexts while always maintaining a distinct and refined identity.

WHAT WERE THE KEY IDEAS BEHIND THE DESIGN AND CONCEPT OF THE TUXEDO 40?
The Tuxedo 40 represents a dialogue between performance and comfort. The goal was to create a 'different' kind of yacht, offering a level of liveability above the market average, without compromising on performance or seaworthiness. The lines were designed to convey lightness and dynamism, while the spaces were arranged to provide immediate functionality. The result is a modern yacht, easy to handle yet endowed with all the features of a higher category yacht.

PRESENTING THE TUXEDO 40 IN MILAN RATHER THAN AT A BOAT SHOW FEELS LIKE A STATEMENT IN ITSELF. WAS IT?
Yes, it was an intentional choice. We were born and live in Milan, so for us it was a natural decision. Presenting the Tuxedo 40 in Milan also meant placing it in the most fitting context for an object that brings together technology, aesthetics, and lifestyle. Milan represents the excellence of Italian design worldwide, and showcasing the boat in this setting allowed us to communicate its essence not only as a nautical product, but as the expression of a broader design vision. It is a way to engage with an audience that is highly attuned to design culture and innovation.

YOU ASSEMBLED A FULLY ITALIAN DESIGN TEAM FOR THE PROJECT. HOW IMPORTANT WAS IT FOR YOU TO KEEP THIS PROJECT ENTIRELY ITALIAN?
It was very important. Italy has an extraordinary tradition in design, boating, manufacturing, and fashion. Bringing together an entirely Italian team made it possible to draw on a unique heritage of expertise and sensibility, fostering direct and immediate dialogue among professionals who share a common language. For this reason, as well, the Tuxedo 40 is a profoundly Italian project in its conception, its materials, and its spirit.

TUXEDO COLLABORATES WITH ARTISTS WHO PAINT DIRECTLY ONTO THE HULLS OF YOUR BOATS, TURNING EACH YACHT INTO A CANVAS. FRANCESCO, YOU SAID IT WOULD BE PRESUMPTUOUS TO CALL A TUXEDO A WORK OF ART, YET THAT IS PRECISELY WHAT IT BECOMES. WHERE DOES THE CRAFTSMANSHIP END AND THE ART BEGIN?
Craftsmanship and art meet in a shared space where each discipline enhances the other. Our role is to provide an impeccable technical foundation, a product perfect in its proportions, materials, and construction. The artist then intervenes on this equilibrium, bringing their own vision and transforming each yacht into a unique piece. The boundary between the two is fluid: the boat is born as a design object and becomes an artwork when the artistic intervention amplifies its identity.

THE TUXEDO 40 IS PRESENTED AS THE FIRST MODEL OF A NEW COLLECTION. WHAT COMES NEXT?
With the Tuxedo 40, we introduced our third high end Collection, following the 'White' in 2021 and the 'Blue' in 2023. It is, for now, the model we are actively developing, the one we are focusing on and strongly believe in. As with every new Collection, it begins with a specific product, but it is rare for it not to evolve further!