To understand the success of Brunello Cucinelli – and why its founder is lovingly called ‘the king of cashmere’ – we must first travel back to the year of 1978, when the eponymous designer visited the beautiful hamlet of Solomeo. It was there, in the centuries-old medieval village, that Cucinelli came up with his greatest idea: to dye traditional cashmere in vibrant colours. The innovative knitwear set the standard for the label’s signature range of Italian clothing, which has grown considerably over the past decades to include everything from expertly tailored linen shirts and suits to smart-casual trousers, jeans and sweatpants. With a human-centred philosophy as considered as its craftsmanship, the brand remains one of Italy’s finest ambassadors of style.