Piacenza

Piacenza is one of the oldest mills in the Biella region, the Mecca of Italy's fabric production areas. Founded in 1733, records show that it was already operating as a wool textile merchant in 1623, but it wasn't until about 100 years later that they began weaving wool textiles themselves, a tradition that continues to this day. The business has been family-run throughout its history, with Carlo Piacenza, the 13th generation, currently leading the company. Mr. Piacenza also serves as the president of the Biella Industrial Association, representing a pinnacle in Biella and Italian wool textile industry. Piacenza is also a member of the Henokiens Club, an international association limited to family-run businesses with at least 200 years of history and currently managed by a descendant of the founder. Interestingly, there are only 47 companies worldwide in the Henokiens Club, including nine from Japan such as the Wagashi maker Toraya and the renowned Akafuku.

When it comes to Piacenza, there is no parallel in the realm of luxury animal hair manufacturers. They specialize in divine fibers like vicuña, along with cashmere and camel. To weave high-quality fabrics, securing superior raw materials is essential. Piacenza focuses on identifying regions, producers, and farms worldwide to acquire the best materials, putting significant effort into protecting the living environments of the animals, which profoundly affect the quality of their fibers. Piacenza understands that only animals raised in good conditions can produce superior wool.

Take a look at the Piacenza brand logo. It features a depiction of a type of thistle. The thistle flower is known for its prickly texture. This natural material, neither too hard nor too soft, is dried and set in a thistle raising machine, which is used to raise the nap of the fabric. This technique is known as 'teaseling'. While metal needles can be used for raising the nap of fabrics, the use of thistle heads allows for a more delicate process without damaging the fine fibers of high-quality velvety fabrics. The thistle flower, indispensable to Piacenza, is not only a symbol but also an elegant element in their design.

Overwhelming Quality and Variety

There are two key reasons why our store highly recommends Piacenza. The first is the "overwhelming quality." We offer Piacenza's premium cashmere fabric not just for coats, but also for suits and jackets. Upon request, we can provide Baby Cashmere & Vicuña, as well as Vicuña alone. While these fabrics are not priced for casual purchasing, they are made exclusively from top-quality raw wool that is unmatched by any competitor. For instance, it's well-known that Inner Mongolian cashmere is the world's finest, but Piacenza's cashmere, sourced from Inner Mongolia, is referred to as the 'cashmere of cashmeres', and uses the highly valued "ALASHAN CASHMERE". Sourced from goats in the harshest environments of the Alashan region in western Inner Mongolia, this raw wool is exceptionally fine and white, standing out even among top-quality cashmeres. Similarly, for the 'fiber of the gods', Vicuña, Piacenza has secured a special agreement with a group in Peru, ensuring stable access to the highest quality of this rare fiber. Once you understand the quality of the raw wool used in Piacenza's fabrics, it even begins to seem like a bargain. It's no exaggeration to say that the world's best raw wool converges at Piacenza, a mill that has been dealing with luxury animal hair for nearly 300 years. For those who wish to experience the ultimate in Vicuña, Cashmere, and Camel, choosing Piacenza is undoubtedly the right decision.

The second reason for our recommendation of Piacenza is its "overwhelming variety." Typically, as fabric manufacturers shift towards more luxurious materials, they tend to reduce the variety of their fabrics, fearing loss. This often results in a limited range of basic colors and patterns. However, Piacenza stands apart in this regard. Even within cashmere materials alone, they offer three different bunch books: one for overcoats, one for spring/summer suits and jackets, and another for autumn/winter suits and jackets. Like their standard wool collections, they offer everything from solids to patterns. If desired, you can order cashmere material for spring/summer jackets and trousers, winter suits, and overcoats, catering to all your order needs year-round for any time, place, or occasion (TPO).

Their "DUNES" collection, exclusively consisting of 100% baby camel material, ranging from coat to jacket fabrics and including both solids and patterns, is a uniquely extensive collection only possible from Piacenza. They also have a special bunch called "Cocoon," which comprises 80% baby cashmere and 20% vicuña. I was surprised to find that this bunch, too, offers a solid selection as well as patterns. For those who desire luxury materials in unique colors and patterns not found in ready-made products, Piacenza's overwhelming variety is perfect. The depth and breadth of their collection truly reflect the heritage of this long-established brand.

Unmatched Comfort That Once Experienced, Can't Be Forgotten

Personally, the first cashmere item I ever ordered at The Dressing Lab was a sports jacket made from Piacenza's spring/summer Alashan cashmere (referred to as the 'cashmere of cashmeres'). Though I understood from my experience that the fabric's quality-to-cost performance was high, I hesitated because it was one of the most expensive fabrics to procure for personal use. However, I decided to go ahead with the tailoring, realizing that I couldn't convey its allure without wearing it myself. This decision was undoubtedly the right one.

The lightness and softness of premium cashmere, along with its unique comfort that feels cool in heat and warm in cold, can only be truly appreciated by wearing and experiencing it. Once you've experienced this comfort, there's no going back. There's an anecdote that Roman Emperor Caesar (Julius Caesar) was fond of cashmere scarves. Wearing it myself, I now understand why this material has been cherished from ancient times to the present. Even when I feel a bit tired, wearing a cashmere jacket makes both my mind and body feel lighter, giving me the strength to carry on. I highly recommend ordering from the exquisite range of Piacenza materials at The Dressing Lab.