Wool Mill Made in Italy Lanifico Paoletti

We are in Follina, a small, romantic jewel in the northern part of the Marca Trevigiana, at the foot of the Treviso Pre-Alps, in a fine wine-growing area.

The name of the village derives from “follatura“, the Italian term referring to the traditional activity of wool cloths washing and felting, introduced by the Cistercian monks in the Middle Ages, widespread from the 12th century thanks to the abundance of pastures and waterways.

After Lanificio Leo another article for Borghi Magazine, the magazine of the villages and territories, the charm of hidden Italy.

For centuries Follina has been the seat of industrial and craft activities of great value

The ancient history of Follina, its narrow streets, monuments and the association to ”The Most Beautiful Villages of Italy” have consecrated it as an important tourist destination. But alongside its touristic nature, Follina preserves the shy and productive nature of Veneto, which over the years has generated some of the most important companies of Made in Italy.

For centuries Follina has been the seat of industrial and craft activities of great value. One, in particular, the Lanificio Paoletti Wool Mill, the only surviving manufacturer of traditional wool processing.

The wonderful building in the center of the village, just a few steps from the main square, is an example of industrial archaeology and a beautiful and innovative institution of the territory.

A historical textile company, specialized in the full cycle carding of wool. Wool MIll Paoletti has in fact resisted wars and crises over the centuries. Founded in 1795 by Gaspare Paoletti, it is now in its tenth generation, the flagship of Made in Italy and synonymous with Italian style for the award-winning fashion brands.

The Paoletti family has held the helm of the company through geopolitical crises and industrial revolutions: from the mechanization of the entire production chain in the 19th century to world conflicts. Construction and reconstruction, step by step, crisis by crisis, the Paoletti family have protected their company and the territory, bringing innovation and well-being.

Wool Mill Paoletti through geopolitical crises

From the introduction of dyeing techniques and new professional figures after the First World War to orders for military supplies, which allowed workers to be relieved from the army and avoid the dangers of the front. In the 1950s the company’s true identity was affirmed, with patents for pure virgin wool fabrics and for noble fibers such as mohair, alpaca, cashmere and camel.

In the following years, the Paoletti family entered the elite of the Italian Style with prêt-à-porter and luxury sportswear fabrics. Then the product massification, the arrival of low cost and the relocation.

The Paoletti family doesn’t stop and invests in the revaluation and sustainable use of local resources. They reintroduce the wool of the Alpago sheep into their production, which was considered a special waste from shepherds: finding someone who could dispose of it was a great opportunity.