Choosing Fabric
Know the mill behind the fabric
Three questions, and the answers should be easy to find.
- By Royal Blue
- Updated Oct 2026
The short answer
Before choosing a fabric, look up the mill that made it. Who founded it, where is it located, and when was it established? A genuine mill answers all three openly — on its own website, its history, its Instagram. If those answers are hard to find, that tells you something too.
The world’s great fabric mills have spent generations building their reputation. They have a history, a philosophy, and an identity that extends far beyond the fabric itself.
Names such as Vitale Barberis Canonico, Lanificio Cerruti, Piacenza 1733, Spence Bryson, Ariston Napoli, Thomas Mason and Albini are recognised because they have earned the trust of tailors and fabric enthusiasts over decades — sometimes centuries.
If you’re unfamiliar with a fabric brand, take a minute to look it up. Visit its website, browse its Instagram page, or read about its history.
Ask Yourself
Who founded the company?
Genuine brands are proud of their founders, and many are still run by the same family generations later.
Where is it located?
An established brand is rooted somewhere — Biella, Napoli, Northern Ireland — with premises and people behind the name.
When was it established?
A date you can verify is the single sign of a reputation built over time.
The answers should be easy to find.
The brands we work with
Each one answers all three questions. Follow any name to read its history.
Vitale Barberis Canonico
Italy · 1663
The foundation of fine tailoring, from versatile Super 110's to luxurious Super 150's, iconic 4-Ply and beyond.
Piacenza 1733
Italy · 1733
Masters of noble fibres, from Alashan cashmere and exquisite baby camel hair to precious vicuña.
Lanificio Cerruti
Italy · 1881
A name synonymous with Italian elegance, renowned for the finest wool and today part of the Piacenza Group.
Albini & Thomas Mason
Italy · 1876 & 1796
The world's most beautiful shirting fabrics, shaped by generations of expertise and chosen by the world's finest maisons.
Spence Bryson
Northern Ireland · 1891
World-class Irish linen trusted by bespoke tailors and the world's most prestigious ready-to-wear maisons.
Ariston Napoli
Italy · 1920
Big stripes, bold checks and colours that carry the warmth of Naples straight to your wardrobe.
Stylbiella
Italy · 1975
Inpirational lookbooks featuring fine fabrics for suiting, jacketing and shirting, sourced from Italy's finest mills.
Lanificio Subalpino
Italy · 1975
Cotton seersucker, light as air. Lightweight, naturally cool, and remarkably comfortable.
Choosing a fabric from a genuine brand means choosing a product with a real history, a clear identity, and a reputation built over generations.
For many, that’s part of what makes fine fabrics so rewarding.
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