Manifattura del Casentino, known for its specialised production of the Casentino wool cloth, searches for a future in new investors after a recent threat of permanent closure.
Dating back as far as the 1300s, Casentino cloth is recognised for its rough, curled texture and its iconic orange and green colours. This warm, durable wool fabric has long been favoured by high-fashion designers and was famously worn by Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s (see above) – cementing the classic orange Casentino coat as a timeless fashion staple.
Despite the manufacturers’ long-standing success and cultural heritage in the textile industry, recent years have seen a rapid decline in demand. This downturn resulted in the manufacturing company entering liquidation and the announcement of redundancies in mid-October 2025. Although a permanent closure was confirmed, a meeting with the Headquarters of Presidency of the Tuscan region led to the revoking of that decision as of November 2025.
Attended by deputy mayors of municipalities Bibbiena and Pratovecchio, the meeting resulted in a shared desire to seek new investment, prioritise the social impact on workers, and take necessary measures to protect the production of high-quality fabrics.
Located in the province of Arezzo, Manifattura del Casentino had also considered the possibility of relocating to Prato. Although the move would provide a viable alternative to permanent closure, the idea was avoided due to concerns the curling machines would compromise the beloved quality of the Casentino cloth.
Today, the search for new investors reflects both the need to preserve this tradition and the opportunity to revive and preserve this iconic material in fashion. (April Shally)
