Fabric Guide

Vitale Barberis Canonico

Every Custom-Suit.com suit is cut from fabric woven by Vitale Barberis Canonico, the oldest wool mill in the world still in family hands. The Barberis Canonico family has been weaving and trading fabric in Biella, in the foothills of the Italian Alps, since 1663 — thirteen generations of weavers supplying the world's best tailors.

Why pick and pick

Pick and pick — sometimes called sharkskin — alternates light and dark yarns in both directions of the weave. The result is a fabric that looks solid across a room but has a fine, lively texture up close. It hides wrinkles better than a flat solid, drapes cleanly, and moves easily between the office, weddings, and dinners.

The three foundations

Navy — the first suit anyone should own. Works with brown or black shoes, dresses up with a white shirt, dresses down with a knit.

Grey — the most forgiving suit in daylight. Mid-grey flatters nearly every complexion and pairs with almost any shirt and tie.

Charcoal — the authority suit. The darkest option short of black, right for boardrooms, evening events, and serious occasions.

Caring for your suit

Brush after wear, hang on a wide wooden hanger, and rest it a day between wears. Steam rather than iron. Dry clean rarely — two or three times a year is plenty. Good wool recovers on its own.