11-8 Micron - The World's Finest Suits!

On the Wilson’s Highlander Farm in Tumbarumba, Australia, a flock of sheep live in a climate-controlled shed that, because of the pampering its residents receive, some in the fabric trade refer to as the “Wooldorf Astoria.” These rams, about 50 in number, listen to Italian opera music and dine on organically grown grass, straw, and grains. Such care reduces the animals’ stress levels, which in turn helps them resist food-borne and airborne contaminants that can dramatically change the chemical structure of their “golden fleece.”

The term is appropriate. The Italian clothing house Loro Piana paid more than $ 870 per pound for the 200-pound bale that the Wilsons herd produced in 2004. Nearly 150 times the price of premium Australian wool. The bale commanded the record-setting price because it contains the world’s finest natural fiber. This wool measures 11.8 microns, more precious than either cashmere or vicuña and about six times finer than human hair. Most well-tended sheep typically produce wool fiber measuring about 20 microns, and fewer than 5 percent of the 5 million bales that come to market each year are less than 17 microns. Wool such as that from the Highlander Farm sheep is so precious that only the world’s most accomplished tailors can turn it into clothing. In 2000, Loro Piana established its World Record Challenge Cup to award on an annual basis—when merited—the breeder who produces wool that is finer than any previous fiber. Highland Farm is the reigning champion, having won the cup with its 11.8-micron wool in 2004.

From that record-setting bale, which has been secured in a vault in Italy since its purchase, Loro Piana expects to make about 50 suits, and it will tailor all of them to fit one blessed customer. Because this is the current record bale, Loro Piana will not convert the wool into cloth and begin making the suits until a breeder produces a finer bale.

If you are that blessed costumer, Loro Piana will fly you in a private jet to its fabric mill in Biella, Italy, where you will be the guest of Pier Luigi Loro Piana and his brother, Sergio, the co-managing directors of the company. There you will work with Loro Piana’s technicians to create your cloth. Loro Piana even will weave your name into the selvage—the edges of the bolt of cloth that identify the mill in which it was made—to show that it was woven exclusively for you. At your convenience, the master tailors at Loro Piana will meet you at your home or office—or anywhere else in the world you choose—to take measurements and fit you. You can have all the suits made for yourself, or have some made for your friends and colleagues. And as we always say around here; If you need to ask for the price, you can't afford it. For the curios; This trip to the tailor will run you around $ 1,5 million! For everybody else - go check their Christmas Gift Catalogue.