'King of Cashmere' lends human touch to 'Made in Italy'

0 Comments | AFP, December, 2007

SOLOMEO, Italy (AFP) — Rescued from near oblivion 20 years ago by an idealist entrepreneur, the central Italian village of Solomeo is today churning out elegant cashmere sweaters proudly labelled "Made in Italy".

Dubbed the King of Cashmere in the Italian press, Brunello Cucinelli has achieved a rare blend of capitalism and humanism, drawing inspiration from Socrates and Saint Augustine.

Cucinelli, the youthful owner of a small company producing cashmere wear, bought the tiny medieval Umbrian town's dilapidated castle in 1985, transferring his business there after two years of renovation work.

Since then the business has spilled over into the town, with workshops and offices set up in several disused homes.

The company now employs 440 people, uses...