Luxury Italian clothing company Kiton launches its 2011 collection inspired by its recent purchase of the renowned Carlo Barbera wool factory near Milan. With a legacy of over 60 years in fine wool production, the Barbera factory is the originator of “millionaire cashmere,” a lightweight and refined fiber.
Kiton has used fabric from the Barbera mill for many years, but the purchase gains the company access to Barbera’s traditional techniques.
“We have always made sure to have excellent fabric,” said CEO Antonio De Matteis. “This purchase will allow us to start to make our own fabrics.”
Founded by Carlo Barbera in 1949, the wool mill is situated between Milan and Turin and produces some of the most prestigious textiles in the world. To produce wools using its trademark 15-step production process requires an astonishing amount of time and manpower. As of last year, the average price of its fabrics was $48.75 a yard, according to a New York Times report.
