The best Italian woollen mill brands and fabrics manufacturers

Why is so important to choose a great fabric when you’re starting to create your tailor-made suit? What are the benefits? And above all, why should you choose an Italian fabric? Which are the best Italian woollen mills? Let’s find out more about it in this article.

Why opt for a great fabric?

When you are picking out a suit for any occasion or season it is very important to know your fabrics. While there are endless options available for customizations and a flattering fits, there is also a vast array of fabrics to choose from. Which is, however, one of the most important defining factors.

Choosing a natural fibre textile can do wonders for your confidence, as it’s a starting definition of a great fabric. The starting point for determining a good fabric is to look at its composition. A luxurious fabric is defined by its core structure – fibre, thread count and weave. A remarkable fabric gives your outfit a perfect drape and rich natural lustre making you stand out from the crowd.

It is highly durable, the fabric keeps itself well and can last for decades if well cared for. The textile of natural origin can range seasonally as well depending on the weight of the fabric. Linen, cotton and lightweight (fresco lana) wool for the summer, flannel, cashmere, corduroy and tweed for the fall-winter.

There are so many natural fibre options where you can go for either clothing in 100% single fibre composition or natural blend fabrics. These options let you control the warmth, breathability and variety of textures for the type of attire you want.

Why choose an Italian fabric?

The Italian textile industry has occupied a position of supremacy in the world since the late Middle Ages. Italian fabrics range is for men serious about their suiting. Extremely luxurious & lightweight, this range is the choice for weddings, executives and the man who commands quality and distinction.The most established Italian textile mills had built an excellent reputation based primarily on the elegance of their fabrics.

The main reason that the world demands the 100% Made in Italy fabrics is that the textile mills have set great value set on on the sensory characteristics such as high-quality fabrics, unique creations appearance, lightness and texture, and sophisticated production processes.

There are so many small places in Italy famous for different type of textiles, each of then excelling in their particular fabric- fine weaving or knit and quality. There’s no doubt that Italians know good design and have an eye for quality. Italy has been a leader in innovative, beautiful, and high-quality textiles for decades.

Which are the best Italian woollen mills?

Some very important woollen mills like Lanificio Carlo Barbera, Reda, Ormezzano, Guabello, Loro Piana, Drago, Vitale Barberis Canonico and many more. Some of them are listed below, being the backbone of the Italian textile industry and shining as the world’s finest textile producers.

Vitale Barberis Canonico

It is one of the oldest woollen mills, a place of craftsmanship that is producing the finest fabrics for 354 years. Located about 50 miles north of Milan in the northern Biella region. Vitale Barberis Canonico continues to remain true to its origins and, by creatively renewing itself over time.

Fabrics from the company’s historical archives, by way of the men, timeless icons, who have worn them over the centuries. What emerges is a distinctive portrait of the eclectic style Vitale Barberis Canonico has been able to preserve over the generations.

The mill gets its raw material from the best breeders in the world and then woven into the most exquisite fabrics ranging from Super 110s – best-selling quality that combines traditional style and elegance with a unique degree of wearability.

All Vitale Barberis Canonico fabrics from this range are textured in such a way to make them suitable for year-round wear and are woven in timeless classic designs. And the Super 150s range is made entirely from 16.2 micron wool, which can only be produced from just a handful of regions in Australia.

Reda

The top quality of Reda fabrics is produced by a carefully controlled process and an inexhaustible endeavour to perfect the yarn. The journey of their textile starts in New Zealand, where the best sheep are raised for the production of the finest Merino wools. For the finishing of fabric, it undergoes a series of treatments aimed at improving the stability, appearance and the softness of the product.

Afterwards, a light product is achieved, speciality of Reda suit fabric, that is pleasant to the touch because it is remarkably soft and also elastic and resistant, destined to the high fashion of classic men’s apparel. Reda excels due to the high level of its production, the fruit of more than a century of experience and is considered a synonym of quality, luxury and taste throughout the world.

Lanificio Ermenegildo Zegna

Four generations since 1910 of the Zegna family have led the success in textiles, through innovation, carefully balancing science with nature and craftsmanship with technology. The complete production process is carried out by Ermenegildo Zegna – from raw material selection to finishing.

Over the last hundred years, the Lanificio Ermenegildo Zegna has pioneered sophisticated men’s fabrics to become lighter, softer, more refined and with an improved performance and functionality. The mill has concentrated mainly on the production of high-quality wool, cashmere and mohair fabrics.

Fabrics differ in terms of the raw materials used, naturally, some are worsted or woollen. Of all the woollen products from Lanificio Ermenegildo Zegna, the most outstanding are the cashmere fabrics and accessories: precious, soft, warm, comfortable and always innovative.

Drago

Drago is an Italian company that produces quality fabrics for men. The values of the Italian tradition are interpreted in a modern and innovative way. Drago is a fully integrated woollen mill: from a careful selection of the best raw materials, Drago produces internally more than 1.7 million meters of high-quality fabric that exports worldwide.

Drago has been a leader for over 50 years producing wool suit fabrics of the highest quality. Its name is used in the list of the most famous names in Italian and international fashion for men. Drago fabrics are made with extremely fine yarn, giving this range a softness that has to be touched to be believed.

The high percentage of cashmere wool takes drape and lightness to new heights. An elegant range of Drago suits makes it a great choice for executive business use, wedding suits, dinner suits and tuxedos.

Loro Piana

Loro Piana has a collection of textiles created for those who appreciate the outstanding quality that the company is renowned for the epitomizes Loro Piana’s clothing. The fabrics are made from fine fibres and superior quality materials purchased in their countries of origin and crafted in Italy, with rigorous quality controls at each stage of production. There is a range of textiles, the specialty of Loro Piana and each has a different characteristic.

The different textiles are Tasmanian, Zealander, Wish, Loro Piana Zibeline, Denim Flower, Record Bale and Loro Piana Zenit. The quality of their fabrics is extraordinary. Loro Piana is the largest cashmere and baby cashmere manufacturer in the western world.

The finest lots of this precious fibre come from Northern China and Mongolia, where Loro Piana has offices in Beijing and Hong Kong. Loro Piana transforms 12 micron wool into super-fine yarn: so fine that one kilogram of wool, when unwound, stretches out to 130 kilometers. Extremely delicate techniques have been developed to process this wool, which is so fine it risks breaking when handled.

The resulting yarn is carefully crafted into fabrics that are both gossamer light and supremely warm.This range offers you more luxurious fibres and traditional textures. For the Loro Piana suits the fabrics are woven in a time-honoured way by generations of craftsmen to assured quality and good taste. A tailor-made garment in luxury Loro Piana cloth is truly an investment for a modern day gentleman.

Lanificio Carlo Barbera

There is something about their famous fabric which is known as Assoluto “It is a fabric that Lanificio Carlo Barbera studied, with an eye to the future, in early 90’s. Its features resulting from an exclusive and patented technological process (Patent n. 1264402), are becoming more relevant than ever in a world which is more subject to many types of pollution.

Assoluto, thanks to a special fibre of carbon coupled with the longest and finest fires of Australian 150’s wools, protects the human body from electromagnetic fields caused by devices and equipment present in our everyday life, can affect the human body, causing headaches sickness, weariness, insomnia and irritability. Lanificio Carlo Barbera proposes Assoluto, the intelligent fabric for the modern life. And it does crease a little.”

Fratelli Tallia di Delfino

Soft touch, highly valued fabrics, exclusive finishes. Only precious Australian wool and the finest cashmere from Mongolia are woven to create Fratelli Tallia di Delfino collections. Ancient tradition combines with innovative technology to produce refined fabrics that are water-repellent, crease-resistant and antibacterial.

In an are of steeped in an ancient weaving tradition where pristine waters flow, the Fratelli Tallia di Delfino wool mill came into being in 1903. The world-renowned brand is highly regarded for its high-end menswear fabric and recognized worldwide for its mastery in the production of the finest luxury men clothing.

Zignone

Lanificio Zignone produces the finest quality fabrics and pairs up prestigious traditions with innovative finishes and high-performing materials throughout the manufacturing chain located exclusively in Biella. Every season the design team at Zignone releases a new collection interpreting new fashion trends in line with Italian artistry and style.
For more than half a century, behind the doors of the wool mill in Strona at the foot of the Biellese Alps, fabrics with a contemporary appeal have been developed and reserved for the top international men’s formal clothing brands. The Zignone collections combine classic styles and future trends, time-honored skills and technical research to deliver high quality Made in Italy products.
The history of Zignone began in 1964 when Gilio Zignone became a flannel producer, launching the Lanificio Mucrone. In 1968, with the transfer to the Strona production plant, the wool mill was officially named after its founder. The innovation continued in the years up to 2001, when Lanificio Zignone also endowed itself with the finishing phase, so as to be in control of the whole process.

Guabello

Guabello woolen mill has been making fabric history. Established in 1815 in Mongrando, a small village in the province of Biella, Guabello produces prestigious yarn full of personality, colour, and quality, making it one of the most famous woolen mills in the world. Without a shadow of the doubt, Guabello fabrics stand for luxury, elegance, and exclusivity of traditional craftsmanship.

For over two centuries, the wool mill has been creating collections that include fine pure wool fabrics available in Super 120’S, Super 130’S, and Super 150’S. They also produce flannel, twill and Batavia fabrics in different weights, aspects, and patterns. A wide range of colours and design proposals for today’s men, fabrics used for making work and leisure time clothes.

Lanificio F.lli Cerruti

From the mid-eighteenth century in the municipal lists of Biella was placed the name of the Cerruti family, under the heading “Arti et Negotij”, this name was used to identify the manufacturers or producers of fabrics. In 1881 Antonio Cerruti together with his two brothers and a cousin founded the company. Their declared goal was to concentrate “in the production of innovative and quality fabrics”. The success was not long awaiting and within a few years, the company was expanded, with the most modern spinning and weaving machinery and large electrically illuminated halls.

In 1951, the company was taken over by Nino Cerruti, who, despite being in his twenties, immediately demonstrated an aesthetic sensibility that lead him to become an icon of fashion all over the world. Nino invested his time and his energy over the years in the research and development of materials, adding a certain taste, sensitivity and a unique personality with an attention to design.

All thanks to a complete production process where high technology, maximum quality, and respect for the environment are combined, the Cerruti wool mill creates high-quality products in direction of perfection.

Lanificio Subalpino

Lanificio di Subalpino embodies classic Italian menswear fabrics, it is a small textile mill in the heart of Biella and the textile mill has been a family story since 1940. The generations have shared the same values and a deep sense of detail to create unique creations. The Subalpino team is working together to produce the best quality in terms of fabrics and new innovative designs. Their products range from fabrics for jackets, trousers, coats, and accessories like Prince of Wales, tartan, stripes, check, micro – structures in wool, cotton, wool and linen, cotton and stretch fabrics. Lanificio Subalpino is also known for producing Eco-Friendly fabrics with interesting qualities.

Marzotto

An important and historic brand specialised in the production of wool fabrics for high-end luxury menswear. Marzotto Tessuti is a global leader in the production of top quality worsted wool and noble fiber fabrics for men’s and women’s apparel. The company is continually evolving its product portfolio in line with research developments and innovation and stands out in particular for the specificity of the finish of its fabrics.
A great attention to quality and design are features that best reflect a distinctly of their products. Certified fabrics of consistent quality obtained through a monitored, integrated cycle, from direct selection and made with the best Australian wool. Apart from complying with International standards, Marzotto is committed to meeting customers’ specific requirements concerning the eco-friendliness of their products.

Tessuti di Sondrio

Tessuti di Sondrio began its production during the second half of the nineteenth century in northern Italy. Its business and know-how matured constantly over 120 years of textile history, reflecting a great and authentic passion for the world of fabrics.

The Tessuti di Sondrio research actively aims to create new processes and finishes. The success of this activity lead to the innovation of processes that allow the company to achieve extremely high levels of quality in the various stages of processing. Finishing is one of the production steps in which the innovative contribution reaches its maximum expression. Fabrics that range from classic finishes to surprising experiments: an evolution of classic cotton, they amaze and satisfy different tastes of fabrics.

Fratelli Piacenza

“A fixed idea, a goal to be achieved without compromise: quality for Piacenza comes first. In raw materials, in the manufacturing process, in the fabrics and in the items of clothing produced. Every thread always symbolises quality.” This is the most important thread in the history of the Fratelli Piacenza company. A history, a culture and a tradition has lasted for 280 years.

The high quality of the waters of the Biella territory and consolidated expertise are fundamental for the processing and producing of Fratelli Piacenza fabrics. The meticulous selection of superfine wools with carefully limited production and the best noble fibers are combined with the evolved production process to maximize the natural characteristics of the fabrics with valuable blends or special finishes.

The fabrics meets sensitivity c to create the most suitable treatments that enhance the fabric quality. The technical Know-how makes the difference and in this case transforms into the ability to choose the best. The thistle flower is the protagonist of one of the finishing treatments: the raised effect, applied in specific cases. This flower represents the identity of Fratelli Piacenza.

Lane Bottoli

Lanificio Bottoli is a company of Venetian(from Venice) origin founded in 1861, now in its fourth generation. It is the only wool mill in the world to produce ecological fabrics of raw, untinted wool, entirely in Italy. The fleece of the sheep is used in its natural colours, without any colouring or dye.

The continuous research and innovation of the product combine the ancient Italian craftsmanship tradition, a direct legacy of an ancient knowledge that for centuries has pursued excellence as its primary objective. Today Lane Bottoli is one of the most famous Made in Italy fabric producers in the world.

Lanificio Fratelli Ormezzano

The origins of Lanificio Fratelli Ormezzano date back to 1924 when Mario and Carlo Ormezzano founded it in Mosso valley, in the province of Biella. They had a clear vision: to change the way the worsted wool yarn is processed, to produce innovative fabrics for men’s clothing. The company has grown through the generations, constantly evolving the original concept until the beginning of the ’70s, when the Lanificio Fratelli Ormezzano tested and introduced in the production the yarns of linen and cotton. This step represented an important turning point in which the new project was perfectly integrated with the historical one, thus consolidating the Lanificio Fratelli Ormezzano label.

The commitment to research, technical development and creativity influence the traditional excellence of fabrics and historical techniques. Among a range of products by Lanificio Fratelli Ormezzano one can find wool and cashmere blends for winter jackets and coats, and natural linens, yarn dyed linen, cotton and wool blends for summer clothes. The list cannot be finished without mentioning the exclusive super-twisted super 150’s wool.

Ferla

For over one hundred years the Ferla company has been producing clothing fabrics for men and women, with an unmistakable soul and style. The right dose of creativity, research and freshness have been added to the renowned classic history of the Biella fabrics, which has gradually conquered the most prestigious brands of Made in Italy and international luxury fashion.

In the Polto (Trivero) production plant, the best natural fibers are used and, through accurate warping, twisting, weaving and finishing processes, different types of fabric are produced for jackets, suits, and coats.