Where to Buy Italian Linen Shirts in Australia
Australia
Genuine Italian-made linen shirts are rarely stocked in Australian retail, so most buyers order from overseas. This is easier than people expect. Goods valued under AU$1,000 attract no duty or GST at the border, and registered overseas retailers charge 10% GST at checkout instead, so nothing is owed on delivery. The real cost to watch is returns, which is why getting the size right first matters more than anything else.
I make linen shirts in Napoli and ship them from Florida to Australia, and the questions I get are almost never about the shirt. They are about what happens between clicking buy and the parcel arriving. Will customs stop it. Will there be a bill. Will the size be right. How long.
This answers all four, with no sales pitch attached to the parts that are just facts.
Can I buy Italian-made linen shirts in Australia?
In physical retail, rarely. Australian menswear carries plenty of linen, but almost none of it is made in Italy.
Country Road, Politix and Sportscraft all stock linen seasonally. As of September 2026, Country Road's linen shirts are made in Indonesia and are mostly 100% linen with a few blends, Sportscraft's are 100% linen, and Politix's current shirt range has no 100% linen style. R.M. Williams and Rodd & Gunn make good clothing. R.M. Williams uses French linen and lists its linen shirts as imported. Rodd & Gunn uses Italian-woven cloth on some shirts, including cloth from Albini, and makes them in Vietnam, both as of September 2026. David Jones and Myer carry imported labels, and you will occasionally find an Italian-made shirt there at a department store markup.
The reason is straightforward. Italian making carries Italian labour cost, and the Australian retail chain adds a second margin on top. A shirt that leaves Italy at a sensible price lands on an Australian rack at a price that stops selling. So most brands sourcing for Australia go elsewhere.
Which leaves ordering direct from overseas as the practical route, and that turns out to be simpler here than in almost any other market.
What do I pay in duty and GST?
For goods valued under AU$1,000, Australia does not collect duty or GST at the border. Instead, overseas retailers above a turnover threshold are required to register for Australian GST and charge 10% at the point of sale. The checkout price already includes it, and nothing is owed when the parcel arrives.
For goods valued over AU$1,000, duty and GST are assessed at the border and a customs entry is required, which adds cost and time. A single shirt is nowhere near that. A large multi-shirt order could approach it, so if you are buying five or more items at once, check the total before you commit.
Compare this with other markets and you see how good it is. In Dubai, e-commerce shipments valued above AED 1,000 attract customs duty and VAT at the border (since 3 August 2026). Australia's system moves that collection to checkout, which means no surprise invoice and no clearance delay on a normal order.
One thing worth checking on any overseas store: whether the price displayed is in Australian dollars and GST-inclusive. If a store shows US dollars with no Australian pricing, it may not be registered, and while that is not your problem legally, it is a signal about how set up they are for the market.
How long does delivery take?
Realistically, seven to fourteen business days from most international origins, sometimes faster. Express services cut it to under a week at higher cost.
Two things extend it. December, when global parcel volume peaks and everything slows, and any order large enough to need a formal customs entry. If you are buying for a specific date, a wedding, a holiday, Melbourne Cup, order three to four weeks out rather than two.
The seasonal point specific to Australia. Summer demand starts building in September and the popular sizes go first. Ordering in September or October gets you the full season with choice. Ordering in December gets you what is left.
How do I get the size right the first time?
This is the part that actually costs money if you get it wrong, because returning a shirt overseas is expensive and slow.
Australian men's alpha sizing tracks US sizing closely, so an Australian L is generally a US L. European sizing uses collar measurements in centimetres and needs conversion.
| AU / US | Chest (cm) | EU collar (cm) | UK collar (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | 92 to 97 | 38 | 15 |
| M | 98 to 104 | 39 to 40 | 15.5 to 16 |
| L | 105 to 112 | 41 to 42 | 16.5 to 17 |
| XL | 113 to 120 | 43 to 44 | 17.5 to 18 |
| 2XL | 121 to 128 | 45 to 46 | 18.5 to 19 |
Measure your chest at the fullest point with the tape level and not pulled tight, and compare against the brand's own chart rather than assuming. Then two linen-specific rules.
If you are between sizes, size up. The cut is close through the shoulder and armhole, and linen has no stretch.
Judge fit out of the bag. If the maker washed the shirt before packing, as Santoli Napoli does, the first wash softens the fabric without changing the fit, so a shirt that feels slightly crisp on arrival is normal.
Full detail in how should a linen shirt fit.
What about returns from Australia?
Ask before you buy. Policies differ enormously and the difference is real money.
Some overseas retailers offer free international returns. Most do not, and you pay postage back, which on a shirt from the US or Europe runs anywhere from AU$30 to AU$60. Some offer exchanges rather than refunds, which is often the better deal if the only issue is size.
The questions worth asking. Who pays return postage. Is there a restocking fee. How long is the window. Is an exchange handled differently from a refund. A brand that answers these clearly on its shipping page is a brand that has thought about international customers.
How do I verify a shirt is actually Italian-made?
Because the claim is abused constantly, and Australian buyers ordering sight-unseen are the easiest people to mislead.
- Look for a city, not a country. Made in Italy is a claim that can survive a garment being mostly assembled elsewhere and finished in Italy. Made in Napoli, or Como, or any named town, is a fact somebody has committed to publicly.
- Check whether they name the mill. Brands using genuine Italian cloth usually say whose. Albini, Solbiati and Ratti are the names that come up. Silence on the mill is not proof of anything, but naming it is a good sign.
- Read the composition, not the title. It must say 100% linen. Linen blend, linen touch and linen look mean something else.
- Separate the fabric claim from the making claim. European flax woven into cloth in Asia and sewn in Asia is not an Italian shirt, however the listing is worded. Both halves have to be true.
There is a longer breakdown in Italian linen versus regular linen.
Where to buy
The Italian-made options that ship to Australia are a short list. Luca Faloni is the best known, made in Northern Italy, $260 in US dollars with duties included, as of September 2026. Frescobol Carioca sits at a similar tier with a Brazilian rather than Italian identity. Both are good and both are expensive.
I make Santoli Napoli to sit under them without giving up the making. The shirts are 100% linen, cut and sewn in Napoli. Core line shirts are $139, around AU$229, in linen from the Albini mill in Northern Italy. Prices display in Australian dollars at checkout.
Start with the Italian collar collection for the classic option, or the mandarin collar collection if you prefer a collar without points. Linen trousers are $99, sold separately, and worn with a shirt in the same linen they make a set. Both are in the men's collection.
If you want colour rather than neutrals, the Positano Capsule is a limited run of thirteen colourways at $119. Each colourway is made once and never remade, so the page shows what actually exists.
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay customs duty on clothing shipped to Australia?
Not on goods valued under AU$1,000. No duty or GST is collected at the border. Overseas retailers above a turnover threshold charge 10% GST at checkout instead, so the price you see includes it. Goods over AU$1,000 are assessed at the border and need a customs entry.
How long does shipping to Australia take?
Typically seven to fourteen business days from most international origins, faster with express. December is slower because of global parcel volume. If you are buying for a specific date, order three to four weeks ahead.
Is Australian shirt sizing the same as US sizing?
Close enough that ordering from a US store is straightforward. An Australian L is generally a US L. European sizing uses collar measurements in centimetres and needs conversion. Always check the chest measurement in centimetres rather than trusting the letter.
Can I return an overseas order from Australia?
Usually yes, but policies vary and return postage is often at your cost, which can run AU$30 to AU$60. Check who pays, whether there is a restocking fee, and whether exchanges are handled differently from refunds before you order.
Why are Italian linen shirts hard to find in Australian shops?
Italian making carries Italian labour cost, and the Australian retail chain adds a second margin on top. That combination pushes the shelf price past what sells, so most brands sourcing for Australian retail manufacture elsewhere. Ordering direct removes one of those margins.
What is the best time of year to buy linen in Australia?
September through October. That gives you the full summer and the popular sizes are still available. By December the best-selling sizes in most ranges have gone.
How can I tell if a linen shirt is really made in Italy?
Look for a named city rather than just the country, check whether the brand names its mill, confirm the composition reads 100% linen, and separate the fabric claim from the making claim. European flax woven and sewn in Asia is not an Italian shirt.
Does Santoli Napoli ship to Australia?
Yes, from Florida. Prices display in Australian dollars at checkout and shipping rates are shown before you pay. Core line shirts are $139, around AU$229, Positano shirts are $119, around AU$199, and trousers are $99, around AU$169.