Our history

Michele Solbiati founds the company in Busto Arsizio. Later, he moves the weaving factory to Lonate Pozzolo, producing textiles for the workwear of his day—velvets and heavy brushed cotton.His son Leopoldo continues this tradition throughout the new century, transforming the small family business into a full-scale clothing firm.

The third generation of the Solbiati family takes the company’s reins with Peppino and Enrico Solbiati, helping his father, Leopoldo.

Peppino Solbiati enlarges the company, acquiring the illustrious Bruno Pessina dyeing and cotton printing factory in Como.He introduces new viscose fibres—spun and filament rayon for womenswear—and founds Sasil in Lonate Pozzolo, exporting textiles to England, India, Indonesia and Northern Africa.

Peppino merges all the companies in the new Società per Azioni Michele Solbiati-Sasil, boosting cotton and rayon production and silk processing. He decides to abandon the original settlements of Busto Arsizio and S. Antonio Ticino, focusing the production in Lonate Pozzolo and Como. The fourth generation of the family joins the company with Vittorio and Andrea Solbiati.

The cotton industry faces a great crisis despite the economic boom, extending to the following decade. As a result, the company faces difficult times. In an era when new ideas are in short supply, Vittorio Solbiati starts to work with the company, analysing the market and deciding to move away from artificial fibres in favour of linen.

Vittorio Solbiati introduces linen as the company’s core business, using colours and patterns previously reserved for cotton and wool. With this new approach, the company grows very fast, selling linen to the top luxury houses. The proximity with the stylists and the high fashion world positively influences Solbiati, fuelling an ever-changing creative output.

Vittorio successfully builds the company into the biggest vertical linen producer globally, transforming linen into a classic material for fashion sportswear and designer clothing—conceiving everything himself. Linen selections run the gamut, from vibrant plaids and stripes to soft pastels and naturals.

Bruno Munari designs the iconic logo, which is still used today: the synthesis of Solbiati’s personal, product and corporate culture.

Solbiati greets the new millennium by introducing linen blends with other precious fibres, thus completing a full range of fibres for all seasons.

Loro Piana acquires the company, contributing its international experience and management energy.The pursuit of excellence has been its mission for six generations, and it sees in Solbiati the greatness of linen.

With almost 150 years of uninterrupted activity and looking forward to the next century, Solbiati welcomes the future with a new identity.