Sebastian Giovinco: Well-Dressed My Way
Speaking Soccer, style, and the sartorial spirit of Italy with Sebastian Giovinco, Toronto FC legend.
By: Harry Rosen Staff
Seba, Gio, The Atomic Ant; by whatever moniker, Sebastian Giovinco is one of the most influential players in Toronto Football Club’s (TFC) history, and yet another shining example of Italian excellence thriving in Canada.
Across his time with TFC from 2015 to 2018, Giovinco helped lead the club into the most successful era in its history, helping transform the club from underdogs to champions, earning the adoration of Toronto, Canada, and Major League Soccer (MLS) alike.
While it wasn’t Harry Rosen who brought Giovinco to Canada, in a way his story at TFC feels familiar. Italian excellence, finding a home in Canada.
Q. Where did it all begin? Where did you fall in love with Soccer?
A. “Very young. I started when I was seven years old in Torino. I joined Juventus at eight [years old], and from there I grew up in the youth system. I debuted with the [Juventus] first team at 18 years old, and then I moved [to Canada] in 2015. The rest is history — everybody knows my relationship with TFC and with the fans too.”
Giovinco arrived in Toronto in 2015 at 27, joining from Juventus — one of Italy’s most storied clubs — at the height of his career. His impact was immediate: a club-record 22 goals in his debut season earned him both the MLS MVP and the Golden Boot, and set the tone for the years that followed.
Q. How would you describe your relationship with the TFC fans, with Toronto, and with Canada?
A. “I always had a great relationship with the city, with the fans. I think hopefully soon I will become a Canadian, too. It's amazing here, so me and my family would love to be citizens and a part of Canada.”
Q. Which moment of your career makes you proudest?
A. “I think as a professional athlete, winning trophies is the main goal, of course, but when I came to Canada and I did what I did, I think the one thing that makes me most proud was when people said I changed the culture of the sport here. When they said that kids are starting to play [Soccer] because they saw me play — that’s what really makes me proud.”
Q. What were some of the biggest differences you noticed after moving from Italy to Canada?
A. “The culture is completely different. Here it’s more fun going to the games; it’s like a night out [for the fans]. In Italy and in Europe, it’s not fun — it’s a mission to win, especially when you play for a big club.”
Q. Did you notice any similarities between the people and culture here?
A. “I think in both places the people are very welcoming.”
Q. How would you describe your personal style?
A. “I like to be comfortable for sure but sometimes like now I like to dress in a suit, but most of the time I like to be comfortable. It doesn't matter what I wear but I like to be comfortable.”
Q. How does your personal style compare to your style on the Soccer pitch?
A. “Very creative. I’m a very creative player and I like to be creative also when I dress. And I like details, things like shoes, and I was a very detailed player also when I was playing."
Q. What are the wardrobe essentials you can’t live without?
Q. What does “Made in Italy” mean to you?
A. “’Made in Italy’ means quality. I think it’s especially about where and how clothes are made, but also about style — and the way Italians dress and act.”
Q. What does “sprezzatura” mean to you?
A. “’Sprezzatura’ means when you dress or do things with nonchalance — when something looks easy but really it’s not.”
When Giovinco talks about “Made in Italy” — the fabrics, the details, the quality — he’s describing exactly what has drawn us to Italy for decades. It’s why we’ve spent so long seeking out the country’s finest makers and bringing their craft home to Canada — and why we never stop looking. So that the quality he admires is always within reach.
Explore our curated selection of Italian brands here, or discover them in-store at your nearest location.
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