In the past, the term “cenciaiolo” – ragman – was used in a derogatory way, though definitely not by us.

Its origin is really ancient: the term defined street vendors of used rags, who due to the shortage of raw materials (hemp, linen and cotton) were forced to clean up and put this material back on the market. In the 15th century, the “cenciaiolo” became so necessary that it actually started to be standardized and protected as a professional figure.

This profession has been developing since the second post-war time (1950) in the Prato district. Prato was actually famous for wool production, but when this raw material began to run out, there started the idea of recycling it from rag and disused clothes (the so-called “cenci”).

Today, giving a new life to cashmere garments by regenerating the raw material is a sustainable process in line with the circular economy. Keeping raw materials “alive” as long as possible is the only way to guarantee our ecosystem a future.

This know-how has been handed down to us by our forefathers and we, the Gori family, have been keeping it alive for 3 generations, and making it a sustainable process.

A sustainable product – recycled cashmere fibre – in a green and sustainable company.”