Hello everyone,

In today's article, I'm talking about a summer men's suit fabric : "fresco" .

I will tell you about the origin of fresco, the creation in 1969 of Hardy Minnis , the spinning company, then the characteristics of this unique fabric.

For those of you who are interested and are reading the article, please note that I have the catalog of all the fabrics in Fresco Hardy Minnis in store. When you come to the store to have your next custom suit made, do not hesitate to ask me to show you the "few" references (a few hundred) of fabrics.

I discovered the magnificent Maison Hardy Minnis a few years ago when I was looking for beautiful, lightweight fabrics to make Spring-Summer ties .

I wanted to do something other than silk... I came across this fabric a bit by chance and I found it very interesting because it is faux plain and at the same time it has a bit of relief.

I thought it was something that would please my customers and started to market it in ready-to-wear. Success came very quickly, forcing me to order and then reorder to meet demand... By working with this fabric, and seeing the result on the ties, I knew that our story was not going to end there.

Happy reading!

Hardy Minnis: British manufacture of men's suiting fabrics

Hardy Minnis is an English House that weaves beautiful canvases in iconic designs and textures for renowned luxury tailors who value traditional methods. Holding a Royal Warrant , granted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Hardy Minnis is known for its fine menswear fabrics and classic tweeds, but most importantly for its timeless fabrics . Renowned for collections such as Alsport, Fresco and QZ , Hardy Minnis combines innovation in fabric making, not only with exclusive designs but also with tradition and the embodiment of British elegance, making it a global appeal.

Established in the late 1960s by the merger of two well-known wool merchants , John G Hardy and J&J Minnis, the company has over time become one of the most respected fabric merchants in the industry.

Creation of the English spinning mill Hardy Minnis

"Hardy"

Mr John G Hardy founded his company in the 1890s . An intrepid and somewhat eccentric explorer, he scoured the small mills of the UK in search of tweeds and 'country' fabrics. Legend has it that he was one of the first cloth merchants to visit the Scottish Highlands and Hebrides, and introduced Shetland and Harris Tweeds to tailors around the world. He was said to be so protective of his fabrics that on his travels, back in London, he would smuggle new fabric samples under his top hat...

As its reputation grew, the popularity of its signature fabrics (such as Alsport ) attracted the attention of the Royal Family . As a side note, in 1929 the Duke of York, later King George VI , used a John G. Hardy fabric for the Brigade of Guards Regimental Tweed.

"Minnis"

J&J Minnis, established in 1874 in the West End of London by brothers James and John Minnis, has since become recognised as one of the oldest and most respected names in the cloth trade worldwide.

Savile Row, 1902 : By then already established as the world's most prestigious street for men's suits, J&J Minnis opened at number 16. The firm quickly established a reputation for its exquisite fabrics and fine designs, and became the primary source of suiting fabrics for its esteemed neighbours on 'The Row'. J&J Minnis is also widely credited as the first British cloth merchant to introduce the exceptionally high quality fabrics of Savile Row to the Japanese market .

"Hardy Minnis"

The two companies merged in 1969 and J&J Minnis inherited the Royal Warrant, which is now jointly granted to Hardy Minnis.

The merger of Hardy and Minnis comes from their desire to create a fabric suitable for each season and, so to speak, for each type of situation . Saville Row's clients, most of whom were forced to travel far (businessmen), absolutely had to wear a classic suit , neutral but not dull . So they created the solution: the "Fresco" !

The characteristics of Fresco: summer men's suit fabric

Fresco is a fabric made of many wool threads . The wool thread used is a highly twisted thread, which makes the fabric quite rough to the touch, but also airy and very dense .

This fabric holds up well and creases little . It is particularly appreciated for its thermal qualities since it allows great breathability.

 

The Fresco collection of men's suit fabrics 

There are several types of "Fresco" : three-ply (between 435 and 465 g/m), two-ply (between 280 and 310 g/m) and high-twist (between 250 and 280 g/m).

Dressed up or worn casually, 'fresco' is derived from the Italian word for ' fresh ' and perfectly describes this stunning men's suit fabric, woven from multiple wool yarns.

As you can see in the photo above, this English men's suit fabric looks like a classic fabric. Yet its structure is unique.

It's a very good alternative to wearing a suit in the summer, you stay elegant while being less hot.

I hope I have made you discover something! I know how difficult it is for some to approach the summer period. The Fresco can really bring you comfort and lightness.

Do not hesitate to call us if you would like to know more about our fabrics or our custom-made men's suit service. We will listen to you to guide you in your choices and find the color and cut that will enhance you the most.

I wish you a very nice week.

See you soon in store!

Frederic