The Land of Barbers Blog

From the Runway to Franklin Street: The Career You Don't See on Our Wall

When you walk into Land of Barbers at 146 Franklin Street, you see a warm neighborhood shop. Six chairs, organic products, a team that knows your name. What you don't see is the 17 years of international fashion that built it.

Our founder Enrico Mariotti started cutting hair at 14 in his family's salon in Carpegna, a small town in the hills of central Italy. By thirty, he was working 45 to 50 runway shows per season across Milan, Paris, and New York — styling for Balenciaga, Chanel, Versace, Gucci, Prada, Cavalli, Calvin Klein, Ferragamo, Perry Ellis, Marc Jacobs, Donna Karan, Sonia Rykiel, Yamamoto, Blumarine, Alberta Ferretti, and many other brands.

His work appeared in Vogue, Marie Claire, L'Officiel, Harper's Bazaar, Icon Magazine, and many other international publications. He was also the official hairstylist for Pantene in Italy for ten years, including television commercials.

Represented by See Management, Art Department in NYC, and The Green Apple in Milano — some of the most respected agencies in the fashion industry — Enrico spent nearly three decades translating a designer's vision into the hair that walked the runway. Every show, a different brief. Every season, a new language.

"In effetti, faccio ancora fashion — trasferire l'idea di fashion sul look dei clienti."
"I still do fashion — I transfer the idea of fashion onto my clients' look."

That's the thing people don't expect. Enrico didn't leave fashion behind when he opened a shop in Greenpoint. He brought it with him. The precision, the editorial eye, the ability to read a face and know what will work — that training doesn't retire. It just finds a new stage.

After 44 years in the craft, the motto has shifted. The old one was "il mestiere viene prima di tutto" — the craft comes before everything. Today, Enrico says different values come first.

"Non parlo di numeri, parlo di persone."
"I don't talk about numbers. I talk about people."

Eleven years into the shop, with a team of six and a growing community, Land of Barbers is the rarest thing in the neighborhood: a place where world-class technique meets genuine care. You just have to know the story to see it.

5 Hair Trends for Summer 2026 — What We're Seeing in the Chair

Every season brings new requests, and summer 2026 is no exception. Here's what our team is cutting, styling, and recommending right now at Land of Barbers.

1. The Textured Crop

Short on the sides, choppy and layered on top with a light fringe. Matte finish, not shiny. This is the most requested men's cut in the shop right now — clean, easy to style, and stays sharp in the humidity. Jonathan, Ivano, Patrizia, and Iuliana have all been doing these — it works on every hair type and length.

2. The Modern Mullet

Not the 1980s version. This is a clean fade on the sides, structured texture on top, and a subtle length in the back — shaped and intentional. Very popular with younger clients who want something with personality. Ivano and Patrizia have been having fun with these — it works beautifully on both men and women.

3. Natural Texture, No Product

More and more clients are asking us to work with their natural texture rather than against it. Curls, waves, cowlicks — the goal is a cut that looks great when you wake up, no product required. This is where the craft really matters. Iuliana is especially skilled at reading natural texture — a cut that falls naturally requires more skill, not less.

4. Soft Low-Contrast Balayage

On the color side, the trend is moving toward tonal subtlety. No more dramatic dark-root-to-platinum transitions. Instead: warm honey and caramel melting into natural brunette, two or three shades of difference max. Teresa and Iuliana have been fielding requests for this all spring.

5. The French Crop

A clean, short style with a defined fringe that sits flat on the forehead. Slightly longer on top than a buzz cut, shorter than a textured crop. Timeless, European, and extremely low-maintenance. A favorite of Enrico's — he's been cutting this style for decades.

Not sure which style is right for you? That's what the consultation is for. Tell your barber or stylist what you like, show a reference photo if you have one, and let them read your hair. That conversation is the most important part of any appointment.

Why We Only Use Organic Products — And Why You Should Care

Walk into most barbershops and you'll find shelves of products loaded with sulfates, parabens, silicones, and synthetic fragrances. It's the industry standard. We don't carry any of them.

At Land of Barbers, every product we use and sell is organic. Not "natural-inspired." Not "paraben-free with an asterisk." Organic.

Our Product Line

• O-Way — from Bologna, Italy. Biodynamic farming, zero-impact manufacturing. Their styling products hold beautifully without the chemical residue.
• Davines — from Parma, Italy. B-Corp certified. Their Naturaltech line is the best scalp care we've found anywhere.
• Noir — from Stockholm, Sweden. Premium men's grooming. Clean formulas, subtle scents, serious hold.
• Mediterraneo — handmade bar shampoo. No plastic bottle, no synthetic ingredients. Clients love the simplicity.

Why It Matters

Your scalp absorbs what you put on it. Over years of daily use, the chemical load from conventional products adds up — dryness, irritation, product buildup that dulls your hair. Organic products work differently. They clean without stripping, style without coating, and leave your hair healthier over time, not just on the day of your appointment.

"Non sono qua per farti ubriacare, sono qua per farti stare bene."
"I'm not here to get you drunk. I'm here to make you feel good."

Enrico says this about his approach to everything — the cut, the products, the experience. No shortcuts. No illusions. Just the real thing.

Next time you're in, ask your barber or stylist which product is right for your hair. They'll match you with something that actually works for your texture and routine.