Supplier Portrait - VBC
Vitale Barberis Canonico – One of the world’s oldest fabric mills
Our pursuit of perfection is built on three pillars: design, craftsmanship, and quality. We design our collections in Sweden, work with the finest tailors in Europe, and partner with some of the world’s most renowned manufacturers — chosen with the utmost care.
With a legacy spanning more than 350 years, Vitale Barberis Canonico (VBC) is one of the oldest and most prestigious fabric mills in the world. Founded in 1663 in Pratrivero, a small town in the Piedmont region of northern Italy, the company took the name Vitale Barberis Canonico in 1868, following the merger of the Barberis and Canonico families. It remains family-owned to this day, now run by the 13th generation of the Barberis lineage.
VBC are masters of wool — particularly fine Merino wool from Australia and New Zealand. All spinning and weaving are done in-house at their mill in Pratrivero, where they maintain full control from raw wool to finished fabric. Their unique finishing techniques create fabrics that are soft and supple, yet with structure and body.
Today, the mill produces over six million metres of wool fabric annually, supplying tailors and fashion houses around the globe. Known for their exceptional quality, timeless style, and strong commitment to sustainability, VBC leads the industry in environmentally conscious production.
Suits made from Vitale Barberis fabrics
Sustainability
The company publishes regular sustainability reports and is transparent about its production practices. VBC uses clean, mostly renewable energy including hydropower from the nearby Piedmont mountains. Their mill features an advanced water treatment system that both purifies and recycles water used in production.
Their environmental efforts extend to long-term partnerships with sheep farmers, aiming to build a sustainable wool supply chain. This means investing not only in wool, but also in research, education, and quality assurance. Their goal is to trace every metre of fabric back to its origin — from fleece to finished weave. A commitment to quality and responsibility that aligns fully with our values at Oscar Jacobson.
