 | the making -- it is, after all, one of the most famous products of Piemonte.
About one hour’s drive north-east of Torino situated in
the foothills that rise rapidly to peak of Monte Rosa
behind, is the city of Biella. For hundreds of years Biella
has been a world centre for wool processing -- not the
growing of wool, because this is not sheep country -- but
its manufacture into the fine fabrics that have made
Italian fashion a world leader. Biella started as a wool-
manufacturing centre because of the abundant of clean
water coursing down from the hills and mountains above.
The mills needed this water first to power their plants,
and then to wash and process the raw wool. Many of the
processing companies around Biella are not household
names but some -- like Zegna and Loro Piana -- are
brands known worldwide... | |
