Michal was really excited about the new jacket model, the LBBL 18/50, they were introducing this season. After seeing and trying it on for myself I can see why. Since I cannot take notes nearly as fast as he can talk here is a copy of the press release he sent me about the jacket specifics. "The LBBL jacket is one of a kind, the craftsmanship is created by knowledgeable and skilled hands in 18 hours and 50 minutes. Its secret … a forgotten tailoring craft called “velo”, with the characteristics of the grand tailoring artisans as, for example, the “pence” extending from the top to the bottom of the jacket. A detail which has never been done in prêt-à-porter collections but only in the old world tailor shops as the interior pockets all bordered by hand in fabric."
The characteristics peculiar to the LBBL jacket are:
-the fabric is chalked and cut by hand
-the canvas or rather “velo” pre washed and dried naturally
-the stitching is “riboccata” by hand on the whole jacket (front, flaps, pence, side, collar, sleeves, revers and back)
-the lining of sleeve-to-shoulder is hand-sewn
-the under-collar is hand stitched with “baffo” refined with embroidery
-the lining at the bottom is hand-stitched
-the sleeve lining is hand-sewn
-the front and back of the shoulder is hand-stitched
-the entire inner lining is fasten by hand-embroidery
-the “travettino portafiori” is hand embroidered
-the vents are hand-sewn
-the button holes are cut and embroidered by hand
-the buttons are sewn on by hand
-the Luciano Barbera label is hand-sewn with a special stitch called “punto croce”
-the jacket hook is hand-made and hand-sewn