For Loro Piana, the Finest Touch Begins With the Fibre
Loro Piana is known for many well-designed pieces, but it is perhaps most famous for turning previous fibres into canvases for the its craftsmanship.
It’s probably not too presumptuous to assume that when one thinks of quiet luxury, Loro Piana is the brand that comes first to mind. The maison has become legendary for eschewing monograms or logos, opting instead to identify itself through the choice of the materials it chooses to use for its products — materials that are top of range when it comes to quality and tactility. It is a unique approach, and one that few brands in an industry driven by the visual element have managed to adopt.
It should come as no surprise that Loro Piana is also favoured by some of the world’s most photographed people, from movie stars to royalty. It might be concluded that to be photographed in clothes with no discernible label is a statement in itself. To the keen observer, a Loro Piana piece is far more than an item of clothing. Through its proprietary Excellences textiles range, the maison has found ways to finesse some of the world’s rarest and finest materials, using them to create clothes and accessories made to outlast fleeting preferences, instead to be worn and treasured for years. In this sense, the brand goes beyond being a status signifier. Instead, it makes a case for intentionality and longevity, values that can feel increasingly rare in a time of seemingly endless choice and rampant consumerism.
Making the decision to wear Loro Piana is not merely a decision about how one looks, but also about how one feels. Whether it is the soft touch of cashmere on the skin or the considered drape of a coat against the body, the sensorial experience is central to the maison’s appeal. There is a tactile warmth to it, both literal and figurative, that is perhaps one of the most defining qualities of a true Loro Piana piece. One material that brings this experience to life is baby cashmere.
Loro Piana’s classic cashmere is already exceptional, but baby cashmere takes that quality one step further. The material comes from Capra Hircus goats in the Alashan Plateau of Inner Mongolia, where extreme temperatures have led them to develop a uniquely fine underfleece for warmth. This underfleece is shed naturally during the milder months and can only be collected during the goat’s first year, making baby cashmere an especially rare and precious fibre.
The result? A deceptively. unassuming fabric that is exquisitely soft. Baby cashmere comes in a myriad of colours now but it was initially offered only in its natural white. The change was due to the maison’s success in creating dyeing techniques that could preserve the material’s signature cloud-like softness. Today, it comes in a sophisticated palette for contemporary audiences, seen across classic styles such as the Parksville Bomber Jacket, Classic Crewneck and Two-Tone Scarves in various seasonal yet classic hues such as reds, browns and dark blues.
The ultra-fine fibre surpasses adult cashmere in terms of rarity, fineness, lightness and softness. The Sergio Loro Piana Peak double-breasted coat is made from double-layer baby cashmere, and thus is able to have the expected structure while maintaining an exceptional lightness. The Parksville polo sweater acts as a clean base layer, allowing the immaculate knit of baby cashmere to have its moment.
Loro Piana may embody quiet luxury, but you could say that they’re quite loud when it comes to showcasing their finesse with high-quality materials. Their use of baby cashmere clearly demonstrates how the brand makes those in the know continually covet a piece of their artistry, which is an ode to the wonders of nature and of human creativity.
