Vitale Barberis Canonico Fabrics | b.spoke
Vitale Barberis Canonico
Weaving fine wool since 1663 — thirteen generations of one family, one Biellese mill, and a place among the world's oldest family companies.
Three and a half centuries at the loom
The first record is a 1663 ledger — the ‘quinternetto delle taglie’ — noting Ajmo Barbero's sale of a ‘saia grisa’ to the Duke of Savoy. Dyeing mastery passed from father to son until Giuseppe Barberis Canonico industrialized the craft in the 1800s; by 1910 a full-cycle factory stood at Pratrivero, and the Vitale Barberis Canonico company was born in 1936.
The family still runs the mill — Alessandro, Francesco and Lucia today — and in 2013, at its 350th anniversary, the house joined Les Hénokiens, the association of family companies thriving for over two centuries. ‘The Biellese woollen mill, symbol of Made in Italy excellence,’ as they put it — producing the best fabrics from fine wools since 1663.
Founded — The quinternetto records Ajmo Barbero's cloth sale to the Duke of Savoy.
Industrialized — First mechanical looms; 800 spindles and 73 frames by century's end.
Full-Cycle — A complete woollen mill rises at Pratrivero.
The Company — Vitale Barberis Canonico is born.
350 Years — Anniversary and entry into Les Hénokiens.
“The Biellese woollen mill, symbol of Made in Italy excellence.”
— Vitale Barberis CanonicoSignature Cloths
Bestsellers from the Biellese valley — ask your clothier what's in our library now.
The Mohair Affair · Summer Suiting
South African mohair with natural lustre — RMS-certified since 2021.
Greenhills Super 180's · Fine Suiting
14.5-micron merino named for the house's Australian farm — fine, fluid, formal.
Perennial · Business Suiting
A bestseller in Super 110's merino at 260 grams — the business suit, perfected.
The Solaro® · Summer Suiting
The iconic iridescent Solaro, woven in Italy under exclusive worldwide licence.
It starts with fine wool, since 1663
From the Greenhills farm's 14.5-micron merino to Cape Town auction mohair bought direct, VBC follows its fibres to the source — then weaves them in the same Biellese valley it has called home for thirteen generations.
From the Bunches
Linen and the Gang · Summer
The Mohair Affair · Swatch
Greenhills 180's · Swatch
Feel Canonico in person.
Ask about Vitale Barberis Canonico cloth at your appointment — we'll pull the bunches and talk through what suits you.
BOOK AN APPOINTMENTPreview draft · imagery courtesy of Vitale Barberis Canonico