The Reggiani Mill

The Reggiani mill revolutionized comfort, versatility, & functionality through its pioneering use of stretch fabrics as a staple material.

A Revolutionary Weaver

Italy's Manifattura Tessile Reggiani was born with a cutting-edge synthetic elastic fiber as its flagship fabric—today, this fabric is commonly known as LYCRA®. Officially founded with the building of a dedicated factory in 1973 in Biella-Chiavazza, the Reggiani mill was the first to blend this man-made stretch fiber with natural materials like wool or cotton, creating an elevated new type of stretch fabric that was both luxurious and functional.

What is LYCRA®?

LYCRA® is the trademarked name of a man-made elastic fiber technically known as elastane. First produced in the early 1950s, it was initially developed as a replacement for rubber, but soon found practical application in textiles. Although LYCRA® remains relatively small compared to mainstays like cotton or wool, Reggiani has revolutionized its use within luxury fabrics, taking it out of its original use in sportswear and into men's fashion at large.

Sustainable Stretch

While many mills incorporate sustainability into their operation, few make it as central to their process as Reggiani—starting with state-of-the-art machinery. In recent years, Reggiani has invested in new FLOW NOSEDA machines, a highly specialized dyeing machine capable of cutting water use by 50%. From weaving to washing, to recycling, Reggiani’s water use is minimized and treated at every opportunity before being recirculated into nature.

Reggiani & Suitsupply

The result of all this meticulous effort is a collection of stretch fabrics that are both practical and luxurious—bringing the best of both worlds to every Suitsupply collection. Soft and well suited for just about any time of the year, our stretch cotton pieces bring a new element of comfort, granting all the character of their base fabric, with an entirely new level of effortless movement thanks to the subtle infusion of Reggiani’s game-changing stretch fabrics.