Fabric partner · Trivero · Since 1910
Cloth by Zegna: Italian fabric-making for over 110 years.
At Christian Weilert in Düsseldorf, we make your made-to-measure suit, jacket or coat with fabrics from Lanificio Ermenegildo Zegna, from Trofeo and the renowned 15 MilMil 15 to the exclusive Vellus Aureum.
Fabrics that set the standard
Our favorite mill. With good reason.
We love fabric. If we had to choose one favorite mill, it would be Ermenegildo Zegna. Since 1910, the house in Trivero has produced some of the world's finest textiles. It controls every stage of production, from wool sourced in Australia to finished cloth in Piedmont. The result is quality you can feel from the first touch.
The story
Trivero, 1910. Four looms and an ambitious idea.
In 1910, 18-year-old Ermenegildo Zegna founded Lanificio Zegna in Trivero, a small village in the Biellese foothills of the Alps. His father Angelo, a watchmaker by trade, had left him a small business with four looms. Ermenegildo turned it into one of the world's leading makers of fine suiting cloth.
By the 1920s, he was sourcing wool directly from Australia to secure the finest fibers. By 1930, the company employed around 1,000 people. Zegna still oversees the entire production chain, from buying raw materials to spinning and weaving in Trivero and making finished garments. Lanificio Ermenegildo Zegna produces around two million meters of fabric a year.
The MilMil family
Four grades of fineness.
The number in the name gives the fiber diameter in micrometers. The lower the number, the finer and rarer the wool. Choose from four fabric qualities.
Introduced in 1992
15 MilMil 15
15-micrometer fiber diameter
The classic of the collection, made with selected Merino wool from Australia and New Zealand. Fibers must measure less than 15.5 micrometers to be classed as ultrafine. Exceptionally soft and light, with a subtle natural sheen, this fabric is well suited to long working days and occasions when you need to look your best.
Finer still
14 MilMil 14
14-micrometer fiber diameter
Another step up in fineness. Only a few thousand kilos of wool of this quality are available worldwide each year, making 14 MilMil 14 almost a collector's piece. Its feel and luster surpass even cashmere.
Introduced in 1999
13 MilMil 13
13-micrometer fiber diameter
Finer even than cashmere and vicuña, 13 MilMil 13 feels silky against the skin and has a delicate sheen. It combines that refinement with the durability an everyday made-to-measure suit needs.
The finest of the family
12 MilMil 12
12-micrometer fiber diameter
Merino wool at its finest, with fibers finer than most other natural fibers. Available only through Zegna's Su Misura made-to-measure line, 12 MilMil 12 demands precision at every stage of production. For customers who want the very best.
The Trofeo line · Since 1965
Trofeo: fabric from prize-winning wool.
Introduced in 1965, Trofeo remains one of Zegna's best-known collections. Its name comes from the Wool Trophy, the competition Ermenegildo Zegna established in 1963 to recognize outstanding Australian wool growers. The wool for Trofeo comes directly from that competition.
Typically ranging from Super 140's to Super 160's, Trofeo balances luxury with everyday wear. It has a fine handle and fluid drape, helping your suit keep its shape through a long day. For many connoisseurs, it is the definitive choice for a made-to-measure business suit.
The finest fiber · “Fiber of the gods”
Vicuña: the world's rarest natural fiber.
High in the South American Andes, at altitudes of 3,500 to 5,000 meters, lives the vicuña, the smallest wild relative of the llama and alpaca. Its golden-brown fleece is among the rarest and most precious natural fibers. The Incas called it the “fiber of the gods” and reserved it for their ruler and his family.
At around 12 micrometers in diameter, vicuña is finer than cashmere and silk, yet offers insulation few other natural fibers can match. Each animal yields just 200 to 250 grams of fleece per shearing. Under strict CITES rules, it may only be shorn alive and no more than once every two years. A single suit requires fleece from around 25 to 30 animals.
In the 20th century, the vicuña came close to extinction, with numbers in Peru falling to around 5,000. International conservation programs have helped populations recover to several hundred thousand across the Andes. Zegna uses only certified, traceable sources. A made-to-measure vicuña suit combines elegance with a remarkable natural history.
Innovation · Responsibility · Filiera
Fine fabrics. A commitment to nature.
Zegna stands apart through its control of the entire production chain and its exceptional commitment to the natural environment.
Oasi Zegna since 1993
A 100 km² nature reserve in the Biellese Alps around Trivero. Ermenegildo Zegna began replanting the bare hillsides in the 1930s with more than 500,000 trees, a pioneering conservation project. Today, the reserve is open to everyone.
Vellus Aureum Trophy
The highest recognition for the world's finest wool fleeces. In 2023, a fiber diameter of just 9.4 micrometers set a new world record. These exceptional fleeces become Zegna's rarest fabrics, made in limited, individually numbered quantities.
Filiera
The Italian textile manufacturers within the Zegna group form an integrated production chain. From sheep in Australia to finished cloth in Trivero, every length of fabric meets the standards established when the company was founded.
Milestones
Over 110 years of fabric-making.
At 18, Ermenegildo Zegna founds Lanificio Zegna in Trivero, using four looms from his father Angelo.
Replanting begins in the Biellese mountains. More than 500,000 trees will form the foundations of today's Oasi Zegna.
The Ermenegildo Zegna Wool Trophy launches in Australia to recognize the world's finest Merino wool.
18 MilMil 18 and 17 MilMil 17 launch, the first fabrics in the MilMil family.
Trofeo launches. It remains one of Zegna's signature collections.
The Su Misura made-to-measure service launches.
15 MilMil 15 launches. It remains a classic among premium suiting fabrics.
The third generation of the family officially establishes Oasi Zegna.
13 MilMil 13 launches, finer than cashmere and vicuña.
The Vellus Aureum Trophy sets a new world record: a fiber diameter of 9.4 micrometers.
Frequently asked questions
Good to know.
Who is Ermenegildo Zegna?
In 1910, at the age of 18, Ermenegildo Zegna founded Lanificio Zegna in Trivero, a small village in the Biellese foothills of northern Italy. Zegna remains one of the world's leading fabric makers, supplying tailors worldwide and offering its own made-to-measure suits through the Su Misura line.
What do the numbers in 15 MilMil 15, 14 MilMil 14 and the other names mean?
The number is the diameter of the wool fibers in micrometers: 15 MilMil 15 uses 15-micrometer fibers, while 12 MilMil 12 uses 12-micrometer fibers. A lower number means finer, rarer wool and a finer fabric.
Which Cloth by Zegna fabrics can I choose at Christian Weilert?
We offer the main Cloth by Ermenegildo Zegna collections, including Trofeo, 15 MilMil 15, 14 MilMil 14 and 13 MilMil 13, as well as Su Misura exclusives such as 12 MilMil 12 and vicuña fabrics for special occasions. Visit our Düsseldorf atelier to feel the fabrics and compare them at your leisure.
What is Trofeo?
Trofeo is a suiting collection introduced in 1965, using wool from Zegna's own Wool Trophy award. Established in Australia in 1963, the Wool Trophy recognizes the world's best wool producers. Trofeo combines elegance and durability for everyday business wear.
What is Vellus Aureum?
Vellus Aureum, Latin for “Golden Fleece,” is the finest wool Zegna processes. It comes from the winning lots of the annual Vellus Aureum Trophy in Australia. In 2023, a fiber diameter of 9.4 micrometers set a new world record. Exceptionally fine and rare, Vellus Aureum fabrics are available in extremely limited quantities.
What makes vicuña fabric special?
Vicuña is regarded as the world's rarest and most precious natural fiber. At around 12 micrometers, it is finer than cashmere and silk. Each animal yields only 200 to 250 grams of fleece per shearing and may only be shorn alive, at most once every two years. One suit requires fleece from around 25 to 30 animals. At Christian Weilert, Zegna vicuña fabrics are available on request for special occasions.
What is Zegna's Filiera?
Filiera is Zegna's vertically integrated production chain. Several Italian textile manufacturers are part of the group, allowing Zegna to oversee every stage, from selecting raw wool in Australia to the finished cloth in Trivero.
What is Oasi Zegna?
Oasi Zegna is a 100 km² nature reserve in the Biellese Alps, open to the public. It grew out of Ermenegildo Zegna's reforestation project in the 1930s, when he had more than 500,000 trees planted on the bare hillsides. Officially established in 1993, Oasi Zegna has been under the patronage of Fondo Ambiente Italiano since 2014.
Which MilMil fabric is best for everyday wear?
15 MilMil 15 is an excellent introduction to the MilMil family, balancing fineness, durability and comfort for business wear. For special occasions, consider the finer 14 or 13 MilMil fabrics. We can help you choose at a personal consultation.
How much is a made-to-measure suit in Cloth by Zegna fabric?
The price depends on your chosen fabric. We can prepare a personal quote for you at a consultation in our Düsseldorf atelier.
Your next step
Discover Cloth by Zegna in person.
Visit our Düsseldorf atelier to explore the MilMil family and Trofeo collection. We'll take the time to listen and help you find a fabric that makes your next made-to-measure suit special.