For more than 360 years, Vitale Barberis Canonico has maintained its position as a leader in making the finest fabrics. The Italy-based family-run business has continued to produce uncompromising quality in its production.
While over the years Vitale Barberis Canonico has blended the prized Saxon Merino wool with others for its textiles, the mill will now offer a capsule collection made up of 100 percent Saxon Merino wool called The Saxon Club — the collection is set to be presented at Milano Unica in July for the new fall 2025 season.
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The special capsule collection will feature flannels and double melton overcoating for an elegant yet uncompromising fabric — which is known for its warm, soft texture combined with a silky appearance. Furthermore, the principal characteristic of the 100 percent Saxon wool is its high crimp, which allows the fibers to maintain a strong structure.
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“Revisited and updated to suit contemporary styles, this fabric lives again in The Saxon Club capsule collection, recreated in pure Saxon Merino wool — a collection that represents a compendium of men’s fashion over four centuries,” said Francesco Barberis Canonico, creative director and 13th generation of the same family at the helm of the company, told Fairchild Studio.
Aside from the new capsule collection, Vitale Barberis Canonico continues its commitment to preserving Saxon Merino wool. To the wool mill, promoting Saxon wool means the preservation of the race of sheep that make the treasured high-quality fabric.
What makes the Saxon Merino wool such a cherished wool is the race of sheep, which are ancestor of modern Australian Merino sheep. Furthermore, the sheep have a regal history that can be traced back to the 18th century — the fabric of choice amongst the European courts from Spain to Germany’s Electorate Saxony region. A small flock of sheep was introduced to Australia in the mid-1800s where the environment became an ideal condition for breeding.
Compared to other sheep, Saxon sheep are smaller and produce less wool. Notably, the sheep have seen a decline in population as they are harder to raise and the constant care and attention required.
The farmers who partner with and supply Vitale Barberis Canonico all voluntarily abide by the Integrity Animal Welfare organization, which demands not only ethical care of the environment but also the environment in which they’re raised.
Vitale Barberis Canonico’s Excellence Club, founded in 2014, rewards the farms that set itself apart in the production of wool which gives the paramount attention to the animals’ well-being. The four pillars on which the club was founded are quality, training, loyalty and sustainability.
The Wool Excellence Award awarded by the company helps promote the production of Saxon Merino wool while simultaneously giving recognition for the best practices in the well-being of the Saxon sheep and protecting the environment.
“Behind the quality of Vitale Barberis Canonico fabrics, there are many people who love their work, carrying it out with competence and passion,” said Francesco Barberis Canonico. “Most of all, the Australian breeders who dedicate their lives to the research for excellence and to the well-being of their animals. Vitale Barberis Canonico wanted to bring them together and created the Wool Excellence Club in 2014. It aims to recognize and remunerate the quality of the wool — establishing a direct, individual and enduring relationship with the individual breeders — in a logic of virtuous cooperation.”