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………………………….The Italian linen plaids were developed for me by Torello Viera, a marvelous manufacturer of wool, linen and cottons. They were, and are still located in Biella, Northern Italy. They were known for their precious and high quality fibers and their unique constructions. They are considered one of the finest Italian fabric mills in Italy. Their legacy is over 100 years old. It was a pleasure to go there to visit with their very talented fabric designer. He was a very distinguished handsome man in his late 30’s, and didn’t speak a word of English. We always had an interpreter, but he always understood immediately what I was looking to develop. They manufacture men’s fabrics specifically, but many of the women’s designers also buy their fabrics. Armani was a big customer. Their quality was superb……Tailoring was always my forte. There was something about a beautiful precision cut lapel and collar that I loved….It brought me back to my days at Norell soaking in all I could as I watched the tailors at work. That’s wear I learned that all jackets start with a good shoulder, whether a natural one or one with massive shoulder pads. It’s all about the balance….Of course the more expensive the jacket, the more care is taken with tailoring and what goes into making a beautiful jacket….The different placement of seams and darts to create a certain shape was extremely important…..Not all jackets have the same seaming…..The long zip front topper and the shorter double breasted cutaway jackets were beautifully cut and tailored. They look as smart today as they did 30 years ago.They are both worn over tweed linen…..a pencil skirt, and a pleated pant. A pongee silk shell piped in black silk is worn under the DB jacket. The zipper pull was made in the clear resin with the gold drop inside……I always felt the jackets I did for Linea had the same qualities as any I designed for Anne Klein. Of course with the price restrictions tailoring had to be kept to a minimal, but considering the prices of the Linea jackets…they were great IMHO……The two jackets above retailed for approx. $655.00, but remember that was 30 years ago! Today I can only guess how much they would cost, but similar designer jackets are over $2000.