Vitale Barberis Canonico

“Biellese” wool

  • Pratrivero
  • October 26th, 2021

Vitale Barberis Canonico has selected a unique Italian wool to add to its line of sustainable fabrics, H.O.P.E (which stands for How to Optimize People and Environment). 100% Piedmontese, this locally sourced fibre relies on ancient traditions that have forged an indissoluble bond between humans, animals and the environment.
This wool comes from the fleece of the “Biellese” breed of sheep reared according to the traditional practice of pastoralism, which adapts to the natural resources available and follows the changing seasons. From May to September the flocks graze in mountain pastures at the foot of the Alpine glaciers, at an altitude of 2,600 – 2,700 metres, before moving back down the mountain in early autumn to spend the colder months in Piedmont’s lowland pastures.
It is a robust, rustic wool, of ordinary fineness, which expresses the rugged beauty of the Alpine landscapes. For a long time it was merely discarded, but a number of breeders are now enthusiastically engaged in improving its quality.
Vitale Barberis Canonico has chosen to interpret this one-of-a-kind material in an overcoat fabric with a dry, rustic handle and a distinctive retro look, featuring a herringbone weave in a palette of shades selected from the books in the company’s historical archives.