The Biella region in Italy has always been known for its millinery expertise, and the founding of Cappellificio Cervo in 1897 in Sagliano Micca further cemented Biella’s hat-making fame. Shortly after its founding, Cappellificio Cervo became one of the region’s most important manufacturers, employing almost 400 workers and exporting hats internationally. Now a family business with the support of the Ermenegildo Zegna Group, the manufacturer is one of the last establishments in the world that carries out its hat production in-house with long-standing techniques and original machinery.

After 120 years in business, Cappellificio Cervo continues to specialise in straw hats, panamas, alpine hats and one-off haute couture pieces for films. Its secret, however, lies not only in the fine knowledge of felt and in the right tools; it is the water quality from the Cervo torrent, which runs directly under the factory, that makes the dyeing and felting processes qualitatively exceptional.