Under the Surface

And yet, like a beating heart, they form the innermost foundation of any real achievement. Where passion, enthusiasm, and discipline meet, the logic of excellence takes shape. Such is the story of Under the Surface, the newest creative collaboration from Canali.

Under the Surface is a look at the unseen architecture of a sartorial jacket by Canali. Every Canali jacket is born from a complex system of about 200 steps, each executed with meticulous care. Around 15 specialists are involved in the process—one that sees more than 520 feet of thread sewn into 22,000 stitches, both machine- and hand-made.

Unseen when looking at the finished garment, the process informs each piece’s quality, comfort, shape, and durability. It’s not just a matter of talent: rather, it’s about staying faithful to one’s goals, pursuing them with dedication even when no one is watching. It’s then that quality truly makes a difference, and the end result becomes the visible manifestation of a long creation process that demands great effort, experience and willpower.

That commitment of excellence unites the sartorial world of Canali and Ethan Hawke, the brand’s new Global Ambassador. The actor, writer, and director has dedicated almost four decades to perfecting his art, with endless, ever-learning curiosity. For their new Fall/Winter 2026 campaign, Canali has decided to capture what goes on behind the scenes.

In the film, Hawke pores over his scripts, rehearses lines, refines each motion: a painstaking introspective process made of research, study, and exercise, preceding each of his performances. The behind-the-scenes of a Canali jacket starts with selecting the finest fabrics, sourced from the best Italian wool mills. Then, each textile is examined and interpreted.

While technology now allows extreme precision and control, some assessments are still left to the eye and expertise of human specialists. Even tiny details such as slightly different shades of color or variations in texture can influence the final product. The fabric is then stabilized via steaming cycles and specific treatments, to ensure its behavior remains consistent over time.