Loro Piana is an Italian clothing company specialising in high-end, luxury cashmere and wool products.
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Originally from Trivero (a textile district in north Italy), the Loro Piana family started as merchants of wool fabrics at the beginning of the nineteenth century. In the second half of the century the family moved its activity to Valsesia and founded the Lanificio Fratelli Lora e Compagnia, followed by Lanificio di Quarona di Zignone & C. at the beginning of the 20th century.
Loro Piana was established in 1924 by Pietro Loro Piana. In the post-war period his nephew Franco took over the company and moved it into the international high fashion markets.
The company has stores in Italy and USA, as well as in many major cities in Europe and Asia, totalling 132 stores worldwide.[1]
In 1985 the company began sponsoring Italian and international horsemen and partnered with the Italian Equestrian Sports Federation (FISE).[2] Loro Piana sponsored the Around the Island Race 2006 in Hong Kong.
Since 2000 Loro Piana has awarded a prize for the world’s finest bale of wool which produces just enough fabric for 50 suits. The cup is awarded to an Australian or New Zealand woolgrower who produces the year's finest bale.[3] In 2008 Loro Piana paid a record 48,000 cents per kilo for a bale 12.5 micron Merino wool produced by Peter and Greg Munsie and Phil and Judy Fittler of Uralla, New South Wales.[4]