
Hosting an evening at The Wellington Arch, with Paul Croughton in conversation with five young tailors, The Campaign for Wool and Vitale Barberis Canonico are committed to supporting the continuation of these important craft and heritage skills.
The project has followed the journey of the five tailors, captured in a series of films, as they create individual bespoke pieces using sustainable Australian Merino wool cloths from Vitale Barberis Canonico. The tailors visited the mill in Biella and experienced the state-of-the-art machinery and cloth production, before making their fabric selection to begin the bespoke process.
Tailors involved:
Alistair Nimmo – Emily Hayward – Francis Paley – Molly Anderson – Nicholas Simon
“The future of bespoke tailoring lies in the hands of young makers such as the five who are part of this fantastic ‘Making It’ initiative. This group, with different backgrounds and styles, are united in their ability to blend technical expertise with a contemporary aesthetic, and bring fresh ideas to a craft that has been alive for hundreds of years. I’m excited to discover how they’ll be championing the bespoke arts for decades to come.”
Paul Croughton, Editor and writer
In 2023 Vitale Barberis Canonico celebrated its 360th anniversary of the Barberis Canonico family textile business, with Francesco Barberis Canonico the 13th generation in the family firm. Its focus is on the quality of wool cloth it produces using sustainable natural materials. Primarily using Australian Merino, Vitale Barberis Canonico select the finest raw materials and enforce best practices to preserve the environment.
“The vision for the future is more sustainability, innovation and care for the people who work here. Wool is sustainable, it is durable and always going to be the smartest fibre. It is a passion because when we think of a bespoke tailor we think of our fabric being worked with such lovely hands and for so many hours, so we are very happy when we know our fabric will end up with a bespoke tailor. This is a very exciting project and I think it is going to be the future, since we have to support the younger generation and to attract the younger generation to wear a suit.”
Francesco Barberis Canonico
Blending tradition and modernity, Vitale Barberis Canonico, a leading Woolmark licensee, has one of the oldest vertical woollen mills in the world, yet at the same time it renewed its environmental commitment by upgrading the wastewater treatment plant and expanding the company’s solar energy use.
Furthermore, during the event at the Wellington Arch, Vitale Barberis Canonico presents the traceability of the company’s products by its first transparency digital passport through QR codes. The wool mill has introduced this tool, created by The ID Factory, to share the journey from the sheep to the fabric. This application, which you can access on your smartphone, gives detailed information on each fabric and its value chain.
Bespoke tailored pieces are the ultimate in sustainable fashion, designed to be altered and adapted during their journey with their owners. “Making It” is a celebration of this art, as young tailors, from their Savile Row apprenticeships, progress to making it on their own or in a family business, ultimately passing their training on to new apprentices.
HM The King is the Patron of the Campaign for Wool, and its educational activities and events remind the world of wool’s support for the planet and its natural, renewable and biodegradable properties. This project collaboration fits perfectly with HM The King’s recently announced personal focus of Climate, Community, Commonwealth and Culture. Wool’s importance as a sustainable natural material has never been more important, as the impact of climate change is never far from the headlines. The Patron has passionately endorsed the natural benefits and use of wool, issues he raised in his student days over 50 years ago.
“The Campaign for Wool is delighted to play a key role in such an important programme to celebrate a younger generation of tailors’ devotion to the environmental values frequently amplified by our Patron HM The King: “It’s really of the greatest importance we educate makers and consumers of the global benefits of using natural and sustainable resources. Only wool provides that ultimate reassurance of sustainability”.
The art of bespoke tailoring perfectly responds to current growth in demand for highly skilled craftsmanship in environmentally sustainable raw materials, a commitment to core values other sectors of the fashion industry are only just beginning to rediscover.”
Peter Ackroyd, COO The Campaign for Wool
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