Loro Piana: History, Icons and the Collection

Loro Piana was founded in 1924 as Ing. Loro Piana & C. by Pietro Loro Piana in Quarona, a town in Piedmont. The family’s roots in wool go back further: the house says it began distributing woollen fabrics in the mid-1800s, and it counts six generations of the family.

In the 1960s Franco Loro Piana took the company’s fabrics to Europe, the United States and Japan. In the 1970s Sergio and Pier Luigi Loro Piana shifted the focus to the finest cashmere and extrafine wools, the direction that defines the house today. Wikipedia records that they went on to launch ready-to-wear and a luxury division in the 1980s.

Loro Piana has been part of LVMH since 2013, and moved its headquarters to a new Milan site in 2022. The house marked its centenary in 2024.

The house’s own account is of fabric first, finished goods later: from the 1950s it committed to turning fine and rare natural fibres into exclusive fabrics, and it started crafting its first finished products between the 1980s and the early 1990s. The Grande Unita cashmere scarf is described as its first finished item. A Luxury Goods division followed in the 1980s, the first stores opened in Milan and Venice in 1998, and an Interiors division was launched in 2006.

Since then the house has widened the stage: a Master of Fibres book with Assouline for the centenary in 2024, a Shanghai exhibition and an installation at Bergdorf Goodman in New York in 2025.

Loro Piana’s reputation rests on raw materials. The house’s own pages describe a handful of fibres it has built its name around, each tied to a moment in its history.

Vicuña is a rare fibre with a golden hue; Loro Piana’s work on it began in 1994. Wikipedia records a 1997 agreement with Peru and Andean villages under which fibre is sourced only from living animals. Loro Piana puts the average diameter of vicuña fibre at 12.5 microns. Baby cashmere (2008) comes from the underfleece of the goat kid, an idea the house credits to Pier Luigi Loro Piana.

Gift of Kings (2015) is Merino from Australia and New Zealand. Pecora Nera is undyed dark Merino wool, traceable by QR code through the Aura Blockchain Consortium. Royal Lightness combines silk and Merino yarn.

Shoes are a natural starting point for Loro Piana. The house builds them in families — the Walk loafers, the sneakers, the sandals and the boots — and this guide covers each: what Loro Piana says about it, how the family is organised and the pairs we hold. Every pair named below is Loro Piana, not a lookalike.

Our edit has 75 pairs across women’s and men’s: 24 loafers, 21 sneakers, 19 sandals and 11 boots.

The Summer Walk is the shoe most people mean when they say “Loro Piana loafers”. Loro Piana says it was introduced in 2003 and calls it the first White Sole model; the Summer Charms Walk was added later as a feminine counterpart. The women’s loafer range, the house says, is defined by charm detailing and tassels.

Beyond the two best-known names there is the Summer Anton Walk, which the house says is inspired by its signature sailing shoe. Loro Piana’s product page for it describes a hand-stitched upper, a logo-detailed white sole with a non-slip finish, an L|P stamp at the back of the right shoe, and space on the heel to write your name. There is also the Sergio loafer, inspired by Sergio Loro Piana’s personal collection and made in soft leather, and the Babouche and Dot Sole variants that sit in our edit.

Loro Piana’s sneakers are sold as named Walk families. The house describes the Tennis Walk as relaxed and refined in equal parts: a low-top silhouette for year-round wear with a two-hued sole. The Soho is an easy slip-on with a rib-knitted trim, the 360 LP Flexy Walk is designed to feel very light with a sock-like fit, and the Week End Walk has a panelled design, gentle padding, topstitching and an ultra-light cushioning sole.

In our edit, look for the Tennis Walk in suede calf split and calfskin, the 360 Flexy Walk in knitted virgin wool and Wish wool, the Soho Walk in calfskin and the Week End Walk in microfibre, mesh and suede.

Loro Piana describes its men’s sandals as made for warmer climates, with clean-edged buckles for a refined, functional closure; the Pilat Plain Walk in calfskin is the example in our edit. The women’s side is the Summer Charms sandal, in flat and heeled versions, in suede goatskin, cotton and linen, matte python, ostrich and crocodile leather.

Sandals are the range’s most seasonal pieces, and in the Gulf they are useful for most of the year.

The Open Walk ankle boot, in suede, is the boot of the Walk family. Our edit holds it in more than one colourway, and the house also makes a baby version of the same boot.

For cooler months and travel, it is the pair that sits between a loafer and a full boot.

Loro Piana lists men’s shoe sizes in EU sizes, including half sizes: the Summer Anton Walk page we read runs from 39 to 46. For children, the house splits shoes into toddlers (EU 21–27) and kids (EU 28–34). Every product page carries a size guide link, so check it for the model you want.

We cannot tell you from the pages whether a given model runs large or small, so tell our desk your usual size and the model and we will confirm before you order.

Loro Piana’s own care note on its shoe pages is short: handle the shoes with care, never machine wash them, and when storing them use shoe trees or stuffed paper, in cotton pouches. For suede and exotic leathers, ask for specific guidance before cleaning.

The note comes from the product page of a Loro Piana loafer on the house’s UAE site.

Loro Piana’s bags are named lines rather than seasonal styles: the Extra Bag and Extra Pocket, the Loom and the Bale. The house’s own leather-goods page opens with the Extra Bag’s graceful profile and the Bale Bag, and it describes the Extra Pocket as among its most recognisable bags, with minimal lines, refined materials and a two-way zip with signature charms.

Our edit has 38 bags, from AED 7,380 to AED 51,030: 16 in the Extra family and 7 Bale and Loom bags.

Loro Piana’s page for the Extra Bag L27 in calfskin calls it an elegant, sculptural shape that can be carried over the shoulder or crossbody. It states the size as 27 x 16 x 10 cm, a calfskin outside with a suede lining, charms with rounded edges and a new signature press stud inside, and it is made in Italy.

Our edit holds the Extra Bag L27 in calfskin, smooth calfskin and silk, the Extra Softy line, and the matching pouches and cardholders.

Loro Piana’s Loom bag L25 page describes a bag crafted in Shetland silk tweed, with a textured padlock that can be worn closed or open, leather handles and a detachable adjustable crossbody strap. It lists the size as 25 x 18 x 12.5 cm, a weight of 740 g, calfskin details and an internal logo pocket with a removable pouch. The house says the name comes from the weaving device and describes the top bar as mimicking fabric draped off the heddle of a loom.

In our edit, the Loom bag L25 in calfskin, the L32 in silk and the Loom weekender L42 in cotton-linen and calfskin.

The house says the Bale Bag evokes its bales of raw cashmere fibre, in an unstructured profile finished by hand. In our edit it is the Micro Bale Bag, in calfskin and in calfskin and wicker with suede or cotton-linen lining.

It is the lightest, most casual of the named lines.

The Extra Pocket is the Extra family’s zipped format. Our edit holds the Extra Pocket L19 in grained calfskin, ostrich leather, virgin wool and baby cashmere, plus the L27 in wicker and ostrich leather — the most expensive bag in our edit.

Because it is the house’s most recognisable zipped bag, it is also the one most often asked for by size.

Loro Piana describes its wallets and cardholders as made for everyday functionality and understated refinement, with bifold designs that carry card slots and a playful charm detail. The house’s range includes the Extra Cardholder, bifold wallets, purses and zip pouches in goatskin, calfskin and cashmere.

Our edit holds the Extra Cardholder in calfskin, with and without snap closure, an Extra Zip Pouch in goatskin and travel pouches in cotton-linen. They are the lowest-priced way to own the house’s leather.

Loro Piana’s care note for its bags: avoid overfilling, keep the bag away from direct sunlight, heat and damp for extended periods, do not use soap or solvents, and use a professional cleaning service. For storage it suggests folding carefully, with cedar balls or moth repellent.

The note is on the product pages of the Extra Bag and the Loom bag on the house’s UAE site.

Ready-to-wear is where the fibres show. Loro Piana says its menswear is crafted around warm layering, precious materials and ample silhouettes, with tailoring that is precisely structured, yet never stiff. Its womenswear moves through cashmere, vicuña, Pecora Nera and substantial wool, with Royal Lightness and baby cashmere used for lighter, refined knit shapes.

Our edit has 15 ready-to-wear pieces: 1 in knitwear, 6 jackets and coats and 1 suits, trousers and shirts, plus accessories and children’s pieces.

Baby cashmere and The Gift of Kings are the knitwear fibres. Loro Piana says baby cashmere brings the same air of unstudied elegance to more refined knitwear shapes, and that both fibres give knitwear a unique sensoriality. In our edit: the Classic Sweater, the Parksville Turtleneck, the Treccia Jumper and the Classic Half-Zip in baby cashmere, and The Gift of Kings cardigan in wool.

Loro Piana also makes vicuña knitwear, which the house sells on its own site and which we do not currently list; ask our desk if you are looking for it.

Loro Piana’s jackets are some of its most documented icons: the Traveller field jacket, the Bomber in Windmate® fabric fused with cashmere, the Roadster and the Horsey®, the house’s first outerwear icon. Some pieces carry the Storm System® or Rain System® label; the house’s product pages name them without explaining the finish, so we do not make performance claims for either.

In our edit: the Windmate Reversible Bomber, the Windmate Traveller Jacket, the baby-cashmere bomber and The Gift of Kings bomber.

Loro Piana’s men’s ready-to-wear includes formalwear, and its icons include the André shirt, created in 1998 and inspired by 1950s Neapolitan shirt-making. Our edit holds the International Suit in Zelander wool, the Milano Suit in Sopra Visso wool, the Elia and André shirts and Rio Bodro trousers.

Tailoring is the part of the range most likely to need a fitting.

Loro Piana’s accessories run from cashmere and baby-cashmere beanies and hats, straw hats and cloches to scarves, stoles, foulards and belts; the house describes its women’s belts as crafted from a considered selection of leathers and suedes, with understated golden or silver hardware.

In our edit: the Gift of Kings gutrah carré, the Hadika baby-cashmere carré, the Veil silk stole, kids’ baseball caps in microfibre and cashmere, and a baby beanie. We do not currently list belts or adult hats — ask our desk and we will source the model you want.

Loro Piana makes children’s clothes, shoes and accessories. Its kids menu is organised by boys and girls from 2 to 12 years, a baby section and shoes split into toddlers (EU 21–27) and kids (EU 28–34). The newborn range includes rompers, gift sets and blankets in cashmere, baby cashmere and cotton; the house also lists a stroller and bassinet in linen and cotton, which we do not currently list.

Our edit has 42 pieces for children and babies, from AED 1,030 to AED 14,180: Summer Walk, Summer Charms Walk, Tennis Walk and 360 Flexy Walk shoes, the baby Open Walk boot, jackets, knitwear, scarves and caps.

Loro Piana price levels, as listed in our edit today. Each product page states its own price; boutique retail varies by market and duty, so a figure here is a reference, not a landed cost.

Across all 182 pieces the range runs from AED 1,030 (لعبة أرنب ناعمة من بوبلين قطن Toile de Jouy عاجي باستيل) to AED 54,650 (جاكيت Windmate Traveller). Gift of Kings outerwear and ostrich-leather bags sit at the top; loafers, sneakers and small leather goods are the entry points.

That depends on what you value, so here is what the evidence supports. Loro Piana builds its pieces around fibres it has spent decades securing — vicuña, baby cashmere, Gift of Kings Merino — and says it teaches more than 50 métiers in its own schools. The product pages we read state Made in Italy. Those are the reasons people pay a premium.

What the pages do not give us is a promise about resale value or lifespan, so we make none. The practical test is to compare composition, finish and construction rather than the label, and to compare the exact model and colour in the same currency, including taxes and duties.

A way to choose, from the pieces that define the house to the ones that are simply easiest to wear.

If the goal is a first Loro Piana piece, AED 1,030 is where our edit begins.

Loro Piana’s own store page lists boutiques in five Gulf countries at the time of writing: Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — 11 in all. Four of them are in the UAE: three in Dubai and one in Abu Dhabi. Wikipedia also lists the Middle East among the regions where the house’s products are distributed.

For a customer in the UAE there are two routes: the boutiques, and sourcing services that find a specific piece, size and colour. SANDS is the second: a UAE-based personal shopping and sourcing service with a showroom and an online store. We are not an official Loro Piana retailer, and boutique prices and ranges can differ from ours, so compare before you buy.

Gulf customers also shop the house for occasions. Our edit includes the Gift of Kings gutrah carré and the Hadika baby-cashmere carré, and we list 14 pieces under Ramadan or Saudi Founding Day.

Loro Piana’s UAE store pages list four boutiques. In Dubai there is a Dubai Mall boutique on Fashion Avenue and two at Mall of the Emirates: a store on Level 2 (unit L004) and a Loro Piana corner inside Harvey Nichols. In Abu Dhabi there is a boutique at Galleria Mall, Unit 127. Each boutique page has a link to book an appointment.

If you are searching for Loro Piana near you in the UAE, those four are the official addresses. For anything not in stock there, or a specific size or colour, a sourcing service such as SANDS is the alternative route.

Loro Piana is a natural fit for the UAE’s cooler months, roughly October to April: light knits, suede loafers and sandals suit warm days and air-conditioned rooms, and travel well.

We also list Gulf-specific pieces, such as the Gift of Kings gutrah carré and the Hadika baby-cashmere carré, that we list for Ramadan and Saudi Founding Day.

The house’s American story starts with fabric: its own timeline records that in the 1960s Franco Loro Piana exported high-quality fabrics across Europe, the United States and Japan. Retail came much later — the first stores opened in Milan and Venice in 1998 — and in 2025 the house staged an installation at Bergdorf Goodman in New York.

Today Loro Piana’s US store page lists boutiques in 21 cities, 23 in all, three of them in New York. They cluster in New York and its Hamptons, Florida, California, the mountain resorts and Texas. Wikipedia lists North America among the house’s distribution regions.

If you are in the US and looking for a specific piece, size or colour, SANDS can source it from the UAE and ship it worldwide. Prices on our site are in UAE dirhams, and the dirham has been pegged to the US dollar at 3.6725 since 1997, so dividing an AED price by 3.6725 gives the dollar equivalent. Boutique prices differ by market, and import duties and taxes depend on your destination — ask our desk before you order.

Loro Piana’s US store page links to a page for each boutique. These are the 23 addresses as listed there on 9 November 2026 — check the boutique page for current hours and phone numbers before you visit.

Three are in New York: on Madison Avenue, in the Meatpacking District and at Saks Fifth Avenue. Loro Piana’s US site also offers private appointments in store.

Whether you shop a boutique or a sourcing service, the same checks apply. On its own US site Loro Piana shows complimentary shipping, returns and gift wrapping on all orders (as of 6 November 2026); SANDS’ terms are separate and are set out on our shipping & returns page.

SANDS is a UAE-based luxury personal shopping and sourcing service, with a showroom and an online store. Every piece is checked against our own authenticity guarantee before it ships, and we ship worldwide. We are not an official Loro Piana retailer.

Many pieces are sourced to order, so stock and sizes move. Tell our desk the piece, size and colour you want, and we will confirm availability and a realistic timeline.