The philosopher king

Brunello Cucinelli takes as much care over his workers as his clothes. Luke Leitch visits a model factory in the heart of Umbria

By Luke Leitch

Brunello Cucinelli, a stubbly 63-year-old son of a cement-factory worker, squeezes my shoulder, inhales deeply, and observes: “Bella.” In the shallow Umbrian valley beneath us sits a Palladian villa surrounded by vines, parkland, soft green fields, herb gardens and houses with yolk-yellow terracotta roofs. Over to the right, the large, L-shaped factory barely detracts from the bucolic panorama.

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