The Biella valley (in Northeastern Piedmont) has a long #textile tradition, which dates to the Romans, as documented by the tombstone of a “sagarius”, in the local settlement of Lessona, honoring a producer of “sagum” (wool). Building on a continuing medieval and early modern #trade, the area between Biella and Borgosesia became a fertile soil for the development of modern wool #industry in the early 19th century, when factories started to appear along what is now called the wool route (“strada della lana”).
The first #entrepreneur to introduce the hydraulic wheel to power looms and mechanize wool spinning was Pietro Sella in 1817, and after his #innovation many wool mills were founded along the Cervo River, making Biella the capital of Italian wool production, or - as many called it - the Italian Manchester.
Many of these mills have been transformed now into art centers, textile archives, innovation hubs, or historical sites of industrial archeology. Many of them are still the base of Biella’s enduring edge in wool #manufacturing, as documented by the global #excellence and success of local #brands like Lanificio Fratelli Cerruti, Filatura di Pollone, the #sports company Fila, and #luxury wool leader Ermenegildo Zegna.
You can find out more about the Biella valley and Zegna at 👉 bit.ly/zegnainnovators (or in italiano at 👉 bit.ly/innovatorszegnaITA)
#italianinnovators
MBA Qualified Strategic Retail Design Developer
1mo#cocreation.