When people ask me which fabrics I consider among the finest in the world, Loro Piana is always one of the first names that comes to mind.

To me, Loro Piana is more than a clothing brand. First and foremost, it is a textile manufacturer with a long history of producing fabrics of the highest quality — one that has earned the respect of couturiers, tailors, and specialists around the world.

Over the years, I have become acquainted with a great many fabric manufacturers. I constantly study new collections, compare materials, test them in my work, and pay attention not only to appearance, but also to feel, texture, drape, comfort, and the way a fabric reveals itself in a finished garment.

That is why my opinion is based neither on the brand’s popularity nor on advertising. It is the perspective of someone who works with fabrics every day and understands just how profoundly the quality of a material shapes the final result.

What particularly draws me to Loro Piana fabrics is the sense of quality that no photograph or description can truly convey. You can see it, but even more importantly, you can feel it. The softness, the refined texture, the depth of colour, and the way the fabric behaves in the hand immediately tell you that you are dealing with a material of an entirely different calibre.

I am convinced that truly outstanding fabrics can never be fully replicated. It is possible to create a similar material or approximate its appearance, but reproducing the same feel, performance, and standard of execution is extraordinarily difficult. Behind them lie decades of experience, continuous research, rigorous selection of raw materials, and production techniques refined from one generation to the next.

That is precisely why I have such great respect for manufacturers of this kind. They establish the standards of quality by which the entire industry measures itself.

For me, luxury never begins with a logo or a famous name.

Luxury begins with the fabric. It is the fabric that determines whether a garment will become truly exceptional.

When most people hear the name Loro Piana, they picture clothing, cashmere, or luxurious boutiques. I have always viewed the company quite differently.

To me, Loro Piana is not primarily a clothing brand. It is the story of people who have devoted their lives to creating some of the finest fabrics in the world.

I value the pleasure of quality.

I like clothing that does not distract, restrict movement, or cause discomfort. Clothing that you put on and, within a few minutes, simply stop noticing. It becomes part of you.

Those are precisely the sensations I always seek in a material.

Over the years, I have tested an enormous number of fabrics from different manufacturers. I constantly compare them, study new collections, and closely observe the evolution of the textile industry.

That is why I have such profound respect for Loro Piana.

The company was founded in 1924 by the brothers Pietro Loro Piana and Sergio Loro Piana, although the family’s history in textiles began much earlier. For more than a century, several generations of the family have refined their craft, preserving their respect for the material and their pursuit of the highest quality.

That is what I find so admirable.

I can see that the company does not live on its history alone. It continues to evolve. New fabrics emerge, along with new combinations of natural fibres and new material-processing technologies. Every time I encounter another of its collections, I see a desire to become even better despite an already global reputation.

To me, this is the true path of a master.

Never resting on what has already been achieved, but continually searching for ways to make the next material more perfect still.

That is why I genuinely respect Loro Piana: not only for the quality of its fabrics, but also for its attitude towards its craft. In my view, this is the very approach that creates true luxury.

To me, fabric is not merely the material from which a garment is made.

It is the wearer’s first sensation. The story of a future piece begins with the fabric. You can create a beautiful design, construct the patterns perfectly, and execute the tailoring flawlessly, but if the fabric itself evokes no emotion, the garment will never become truly special.

That is why the choice of material always comes first for me.

Over the years, I have become acquainted with fabrics from many manufacturers. I constantly study new collections, compare materials, analyse their behaviour in the making process, and observe how the textile industry is evolving.

Above all, I value manufacturers that refuse to rest on their achievements.

I am always fascinated to see new combinations of natural fibres emerge, existing materials improve, and new technologies take shape. When a company continues, decades later, to search for ways to make its fabrics even better, it earns my genuine respect.

That is exactly the approach I see at Loro Piana.

I appreciate that the company does not rely solely on its history and reputation. It continues to develop, experiment with natural materials, and seek new combinations of linen, silk, wool, cotton, and cashmere.

This philosophy is very close to my own.

I believe that a true master should never stop. It does not matter how many years you have worked or what you have already achieved. There is always another step forward to take, another solution to discover, and something even better to create.

That is why I approach the choice of fabrics with such care. Luxury is born not from a famous name, but from the constant pursuit of perfection.

Throughout my career, I have worked — and continue to work — with collections from many different fabric manufacturers.

Among them are Loro Piana, Ermenegildo Zegna, Dormeuil, Holland & Sherry, Cerruti 1881, and other companies that have earned the respect of the worlds of classic menswear and bespoke tailoring.

Each manufacturer has its own strengths, its own philosophy, and materials worthy of genuine admiration.

That is why I never compare fabrics in terms of “better” or “worse.”

I always compare them by how they feel.

The appearance of a fabric can be replicated.

A similar colour can be found.

A similar texture can be created.

Sometimes even the composition can be very close.

But the sensation is far more difficult to reproduce.

True quality is born from more than the composition of a fabric. Behind it are years of experience, production technologies, a culture of working with the material, and a constant pursuit of perfection.

That is why I have such profound respect for every outstanding fabric manufacturer.

Yet if I speak honestly about my personal experience, it is at Loro Piana that I most often encounter materials that leave the strongest impression on me.

This does not mean that other manufacturers are inferior. On the contrary, each of them creates fabrics worthy of attention.

It is simply that, when it comes to the breadth of the collections, the combinations of natural fibres, the continuous development, and the sensations that matter so much to me personally, Loro Piana is most often the manufacturer whose collections I find myself wanting to return to again.

I have always respected people who devote their entire lives to their craft. I am not inspired by loud advertising campaigns or beautiful words. I am inspired by people who spend decades refining what they do, who continue to learn and grow, and who strive every day to make their work better than it was yesterday.

Perhaps that is why I have always felt close to people and companies that create history through their actions. I sincerely believe that a true legacy cannot be built quickly. It is born through patience, discipline, respect for one’s craft, and the constant pursuit of perfection.

That is why the philosophy of Loro Piana resonates with me. Despite its global recognition and extraordinary success, I see a company that continues to evolve, develop new combinations of natural materials, refine its technologies, and never stops searching for ways to make its fabrics even better. That is what earns my genuine respect.

Perhaps this is also why I never allow myself to stop. As a couturier, I am constantly searching for new materials, new technologies, new ideas, and new solutions. To me, every new project is an opportunity to become better than I was yesterday.

I am convinced that this is how true history is made.

I hope you found it interesting to discover my thoughts. It was important to me to share not merely an opinion about fabrics, but my perspective on craftsmanship, quality, and the people whose work transforms entire industries. If this format interests you, I will be delighted to speak more often about fabrics, leather, craftsmanship, global brands, the philosophy of luxury, and everything that usually remains behind the scenes in the creation of true couture.

Thank you for taking the time to read this article. I will be sincerely grateful for your support and feedback. Until we meet again. Sending you my warmest regards.

Respectfully,

Vlad Bykov

Founder of VLAD BYKOV Couturier House