This Italian woollen mill was founded by Giuseppe Angelico in the 1950s. It is one of the most important industries on the Biella weaving scene and boasts a complete production cycle. Angelico produces fabrics but that is not all, it is also a brand that offers a full range of menswear with a clear focus on suits. Nowadays the sons, Massimo and Alberto are carrying on their father's work combining his initial spirit with the innovation and changes that come with the times.
The Angelico group boasts a production of around four million metres of fabric per year. Thanks to its vertical production cycle, there is quality control at every stage, which guarantees that the finished product corresponds exactly to the draft, that only the best raw materials are used. These come from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and South America. “We weave orthogonally, (that is with a warp and a weft)” the production manager tells me, showing me shuttle looms, rapier looms (for linen), air jet looms, these are the fastest, weaving up to 800 picks per minute.
They produce two ranges of material, one, the classic, historic Angelico line, in typical Biella style, using yarn up to Super 160, a strong product particularly for jackets. The main feature of the other range “Ke Idea”, is its even division of knitted or jersey wear and classic more traditional woven cloth. The products in this line are at the heart of the style office's research, printed flannel, prints, double sided Prince of Wales, these all show a successful attempt to add a dash of freshness to the classic cloth used for jackets or suits. The firm employs around 400 people in production and retail, and they sell mainly to stylists and tailors. They have always taken part at Idea Biella, part of the Milan cloth trade fair, Milano Unica, and as of September 2014 they have taken part at Premiere Vision in Paris, and fairs in Munich and Shanghai with the Angelico fabric collection.
“As far as retail is concerned, we are investing hard abroad” Alberto Angelico tells me, refering to a plan that will entail opening forty-eight sales points in China by 2019. Apart from their flagship store in Via Dante in Milano, they also have another own-brand store in Europe, in Lithuania and in Saudi Arabia, shortly they will be opening in Dubai. Their shops also offer a made-to-measure suit service, the jackets use backing, but can be personalised considerably, choosing details such as width of lapels, depth of vents, the height of belt loops and cuff style. Coming soon on this blog, photos of the single breasted woollen yarn suit.
Bespoke hugs,
Fabio
If you like what we are doing here, please consider following TBD onFacebook - Instagram - Tumblr - Twitter
Bespoke Hugs, Fabio
Credits: Marta Rovatti Studihrad
