Less is More

Daniele Fiesoli. LESS IS MORE

The eco-friendly production of luxury products and the sustainable use of resources are becoming increasingly existential. The Eco-Cashmere line of Daniele Fiesoli, an Italian knitwear specialist, integrates a 70 year old tradition in its production process and also safeguards jobs in its home country. Text: Kay Alexander Plonka. Photo: Daniele Fiesoli

The history of cashmere recycling starts in the Italian city of Prato, near Florence. There, the so-called “l’cenciaioli” (English: rag collectors) still maintain the tradition of gathering used fabrics - a tradition that started after the end of World War II. These craftsmen, who are highly esteemed by their fellow countrymen, skilfully hand-sort and separate the best fabrics according to colour and type. They then crush the materials into fibres, which are subsequently recycled without using any further chemical additives and additional colorants. “The recycling of used and already dyed cashmere fibres shows how much respect we have for our environment. This process allows us to avoid the use of additional dyeing. The recycling of old cashmere fibres means we don’t have to dispose of the fabrics, which results in the saving of valuable natural resources such as water and energy. Our Eco-Cashmere utilises the industrial clippings of production facilities that process this valuable natural fibre”, founder Daniele Fiesoli explains. He adds: “How could I ignore a yarn that was created by recycling? The reuse of materials, products, and goods that we call waste nowadays is not a new discovery of the ecology movement, but an economic practice that dates back to antiquity. Rural communities tried to throw away as little as possible long before our time. Such an approach still remains a question of survival for many people across the globe.”

Incomparable Price-Performance Ratio During the first refining process, the delicate long-fibre cashmere material is offset with a small percentage (5%) of precious wool. This method allows a better reproducibility of the original colour. The Eco-Cashmere yarn is characterised by its unique softness, which is the basic element for any garment with a truly sustainable value. Whenever it comes to developing new yarns of the highest quality, Daniele Fiesoli shows special determination, sensitivity, and creativity. Delicate merino wool knitwear and high-end cashmere knitwear are the core competencies of the exclusive brand that is part of Woolgroup from Signa, near Florence. The collection does not merely consist of sporty jackets and blousons, t-shirts, wool pants, and accessories such as hats and scarves, but also of numerous different types of slim-fit cardigans and sweaters. The entire production process - from the yarn to the finished products - takes place in Italy. The retail prices - with a core price range that spans from 129 Euros for items from the NOS merino programme to 199 Euros for Eco-Cashmere sweaters - are truly unbeatable. The customer list in Germany and Austria already includes household names such as Brooks in Bielefeld, Daniels in Cologne, Konen in

Munich, Kaiser in Freiburg, Engelhorn in Mannheim, Revier4 in Frankfurt, Leo 33 in Hamburg, Norton Menswear in Vienna, Pilatus in Graz, Mode Szenario in Sölden, and Kastner & Oehler. The Daniele Fiesoli collection can be viewed in the Area Teatrino Cortile della Ghiaia of the Pitti Uomo and in hall 3 of the Premium trade show in Berlin.

www.danielefiesoli.com

Recycled cashmere “Made in Italy” - Daniele Fiesoli impresses with fashion sense and sustainability.