Tailored suit from Escorial - luxury with unique quality
Sheep's wool is one of the most popular natural fibers used in the clothing industry. There are major differences in quality depending on the type of sheep's wool. Escorial is a particularly noble breed of sheep that supplies the high-quality wool of the same name, which is processed into the luxurious Escorial fabric. We show you what makes this cuddly soft fabric so special and why it is ideal for your tailored suit.
Escorial wool originates from Spain, where the small sheep were part of the royal herds of El Escorial. Today, only a few animals still live in Australia and New Zealand, which makes the wool all the more desirable. The quality of the Escorial fiber comes from its twisted shape, which resembles a twisted feather. This creates maximum flexibility, which ensures a soft and supple fabric. It is this unique suppleness that characterizes all Escorial garments and makes them so valuable. Many customers describe the feel as that of "a second skin", which is pleasantly warm and breathable at the same time.
The Escorial fabric - look and feel
At first glance, Escorial is often confused with cashmere, as both fabrics are characterized by an extremely soft feel and cuddliness. Escorial is a merino wool fabric, but it is much softer and at the same time just as robust as the merino wool fabric you are familiar with. These two properties are rarely found in combination, which is what makes the Escorial fabric so expensive and valuable. The shape of the twisted feather, the length of the individual fibers and the three-dimensional crimp ensure elasticity and a wrinkle-free drape, which is why the fabric is also very easy to care for.
The surface of an Escorial fabric has a matt sheen that looks very luxurious and flatters every wearer. Escorial is particularly popular for suits as it is comfortable to wear and retains its shape; ironing is rarely necessary. Escorial fibers also have 30% more scales than conventional sheep's wool. As a result, they bond together better during spinning, which makes the fibers softer and provides better insulation. The fibers can also absorb water better and drain it away again in the finished fabric.
The Escorial sheep - supplier of high-quality wool
The Escorial sheep was originally bred in Spain and belonged to the royal flocks of El Escorial for centuries. It is only three quarters the size of a Merino sheep and produces a correspondingly small amount of wool. It has long been popular for its robust wool, which is particularly durable thanks to its corkscrew fibers. The flock of sheep once grazed in the palace gardens of El Escorial Castle on the Castilian plateau before being sold first to Australia and later to New Zealand.
The wool obtained from the Escorial sheep is processed exclusively in the luxury segment. It is rightly regarded as the finest merino wool in the world and is the trademark of the New Zealand Escorial Company NZ. The company is dedicated to breeding the Saxon line of blood pure Royal Escorial sheep.
As early as 1765, numerous sheep were given to Saxony by the Spanish king, and in 1829 a flock of around one hundred sheep was purchased by a Scottish woman, Eliza Furlonge, and shipped to Tasmania. Experience has shown that sheep breeding is particularly successful in the Australian grasslands. In 1987, the Radford family bought 40 lambs from the Australian flock to bring them to New Zealand's South Island. Today, the flock grazes on the Mount Arden farm.
The Escorial sheep originally comes from North Africa. In the 14th century, a flock was relocated to Spain, where it grazed on the Escorial plateau. In the 16th century, Philip II had the palace of El Escorial built not far from Madrid, which can still be visited today.
The Escorial brand
The Escorial brand was founded in 1998 to protect the rare Escorial sheep breed and to publicize the quality of its wool. Founder Peter Radford discovered the wool in the 1980s and was impressed by the quality. Today, Escorial only sells the raw wool to the spinning mill Luxury Fabrics Ltd. in Yorkshire, Great Britain, which processes the wool into high-quality fabrics using special weaving processes. The brand's main aim is to produce first-class fabrics that carry the Escorial name all over the world. More than 150 Escorial fabrics are available and are made into suits, blazers, jackets and coats.
Sustainability at Escorial
Despite the increasing popularity of wool and fabrics, the Escorial brand focuses on sustainable animal husbandry and animal welfare. ReducingCO2 emissions should help to keep the farmland in a healthy condition in the long term so that future generations can use it. This is achieved through small herds that graze in a natural environment. Each year, only a small amount of raw wool is delivered to a selected partner who can trace the origin of the wool down to the last detail. Escorial is a member of NFZAP, the New Zealand Nation Farm Assurance, which sets standards for wool production in terms of origin, traceability and animal welfare. So you can be sure that when you buy a garment made from Escorial fabric, you are buying a high-quality, animal-friendly and environmentally friendly product.
Are you curious? We will be happy to advise you on the right fabric for your made-to-measure suit and show you various Escorial fabrics. Just talk to us, we look forward to your visit!