The Veneto Wool District – a journey in time and quality
The green triangle made up by Follina, Vittorio Veneto and Pieve d’Alpago is the area where, thanks to its mild climate, lush pastures and abundant waters, sheep-rearing and wool processing have been traditional activities since the XII century.
The push of the people this district has been inhabited by has enabled the local firms and their traditional manufactures to survive two fiercely fought world wars and to become the flagship of made-in-Italy products all over the world. Love for tradition and the desire to keep alive and rediscover the district’s outstanding products have this year led to the zero edition of “La via della lana” (The Wool Road) which took place last May in the premises of the well-known Follina-based Lanificio Paoletti. Two weekends were devoted to the rediscovery of wool processing by developing four main themes: sheep-rearing, production, art and fashion.
Lanificio Paoletti itself, has since 1795 manufactured and exported its fabrics all over the world, the fruit of research based on the revival of ancient traditions.
Particularly noteworthy is the typical Alpago processing, a mixture of white and dark wool that results in splendid natural grey and brown mélanges.
Another champion of innovative tradition is Vittorio Veneto-based Lanificio Bottoli, the only firm that outlived all the other wool industries of the area, and can pride itself on a 152-year tradition of fabrics conceived, spun, woven and finished in Italy.
The Firm is still located in the medieval citadel of Serravalle, the ancient heart of Vittorio Veneto, on the banks of the river Meschio, and, under the guidance of Roberto Bottoli, has become the world leading firm in the production of original fabrics for patterned jackets.
The mission of this wool district is to re-propose and adopt traditional craftsmanship techniques to manufacture non-dyed, ecologically sustainable fabrics, free of transport costs, outstanding in the world among the mass-manufactured textiles from the Far East.
(Our heartfelt thanks to Alice Scandiuzzi for her collaboration).
