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Behind Our Fabrics

Vitale Barberis Canonico

Est. 1663

Yellow Italian building with green ivy and mountains

RegionBiella, Italy

Employees–

Est.1663

OwnedFamily-run, 13th generation

Mill typeWool mill

FabricsCircular Flannel, Tropical Wool, S110's

Vitale Barberis Canonico

The Italian mill was founded in 1663 and is still family-run, now in its 13th generation. Over more than three and a half centuries, the Italian wool mill has kept pace with changing eras by adopting new technology and responding to new trends, while holding on to the attention to quality and detail associated with the "Made in Italy" mark. Creative Director Francesco Barberis describes the mill's approach as combining the classic with a twist: cloth rooted in tradition, with a modern sensibility in its design.

White wool bales stored in a factory with yellow safety barriers
Close-up of white wool fibers

Vitale Barberis Canonico is the oldest wool mill in the world, and it distinguishes itself by marrying the concept of classic with a twist. ”

Francesco Barberis, VBC Creative Director
Man in beige suit examining a large fabric sample book
Hands holding and inspecting woven fabric with label

Timeless Heritage, Modern Consciousness

For Vitale Barberis Canonico, sustainability is not just a market response, but a true calling that’s deeply engrained into this famed Italian mill’s culture. A fabric can only be as good as the environment it’s sourced and crafted within, that’s why VBC has led the way in implementing state-of-the-art water conservation system, waste management and recycling, and gets 100% of its energy from renewable sources. Like an uncompromising pursuit of quality, social and environmental responsibility is just another value that’s been passed down throughout the generations.

Blue fabric being wound on an industrial roll machine

Thorough quality check — 10 million meters all fabrics are checked every year for high-end fashion brands.

Woman with curly grey hair inspecting blue fabric at a workstation

Vitale Barberis Canonico Collection

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