Meet the Italian King of Cashmere
Fashion designer and entrepreneur Brunello Cucinelli on his rituals, inspirations, and simple pleasures.
Place that inspires you most?
More than any other place, it is the Castle of Solomeo that I love to call home. Its ancient walls guard centuries-long memories, and who knows how many secrets of the many women and men who have lived in it during the long, slow passing of time. Both at tough and joyful times, here I have made the most important decisions for my own life and for the destiny of our company. If there is one [place] that smiles first in my heart, it is my beloved Solomeo, which I like to call my homeland, if – as Cicero thought – a homeland is “where you feel good”.
Design luminary you would like to meet?
I often dream of meeting the great minds and souls of the past, the ones I spend time with when I read their enchanting works in the personal library I keep in the tower of the Solomeo castle. And I would like to ask people like Palladio, Marcus Aurelius, Leonardo and Mozart, “Where does your great genius come from?”
Your optimal breakfast?
The typical Italian breakfast – cappuccino and hot croissant at the bar.
Latest book on your reading pile?
I like to re-read certain books several times and recently an anthology of Seneca’s writings prompted me to reflect again on two masterful works by the great philosopher and poet: Of Peace of Mind and On a Happy Life.
Personal style icon you wish you’d met?
[Italian businessman, former head of Fiat] Gianni Agnelli is an icon of masculine style for me, a unique example of elegance and refined
demeanour. He dictated an aesthetic and stylistic code, reshaping the contemporary way of wearing clothes and adding details. From a more specifically professional point of view, I am a sincere admirer of maestro Ralph Lauren, whom I had the great pleasure of meeting in New York before the pandemic. It was a fascinating meeting.
Item in your wardrobe you wear the most?
My personal preference is for a navy jacket combined with Panama trousers and a grey sweater in very light silk/cashmere. My home wardrobe … is largely made up of clothes that are kept with extreme care, so that they can last. Rather than buying, I prefer to use clothes for as long as possible, as I believe that the best form of gratitude towards what we are fond of is that of looking after it.
Favourite drink?
I consider wine, enjoyed with friends in moderation, a worthwhile pleasure. I happily sip a good glass of white wine in the summer, sitting under the portico of the tailoring school, contemplating the landscape. I enjoy savouring red wine in the Solomeo winery, next to the vats containing the Rosso del Castello di Solomeo that I produce for my most amiable friends.
This story is from the April issue of WISH.
