Published on August 28, 2026.
The Flannel Suit unveiled
There comes a moment, every year, when the summer suit throws in the towel. When the linen that saved you in July turns into a liability come November. You dig out the big coat to compensate for a jacket that's a touch too thin to keep you anywhere near warm enough. We’ve all lived that moment many a time, it’s the very reason we cooked up a winter suit five years ago. Welcome back, lovely flannel.
Italy’s good, but Austria’s better.
When brands go looking for good flannel, they head to northern Italy. But if they want the very best, they head to Austria.
Styria, to be precise. It’s a mountainous region in the south-east, and home to Leichtfried, a fourth-generation family mill that’s been weaving wool since 1884. Their speciality is a unique type of flannel called loden. It was first developed to keep the local mountain gentry warm, and unsurprisingly it does a very good job. It’s also extremely hardwearing.
What clinched it for us was their way of doing things. With them, everything happens under one roof. They wash the wool, spin it, weave it and finish it all in the same place. The fabric never leaves them from raw material to finished roll. Sadly, this is very unusual in this day and age.
A flannel that doesn't fanny about
Flannel is wool brushed on both sides, which gives it that matt, felted feel. But that brushing weakens it, and plenty of flannels end up bagging at the knees and elbows too young.
The answer is density. We take an extra-fine Merino wool, tightly woven at around 240 g/m². We brush the surface for softness, but the weave stays dense underneath. The reason it’s so warm is that the brushed surface traps air, the best insulator going, making it much warmer than a smooth cloth of equal weight. All without leaving you wrapped up like a bundle of laundry.
The rest’s down to good tailoring
The fit is based on our 4-Season Suit, just like our Linen Suit and Fresco Suit are, only cut in flannel.
The jacket has a Neapolitan shoulder, which is soft, lightly padded and falls naturally. The chest is half-canvassed, and the suit is fully lined. We went for a felt undercollar so the collar rolls cleanly, and two vents at the back to keep its line when you're sitting down or stick your hands in your pockets.
The trousers have a forward-facing pleat to create some extra room across the thigh, a sharp crease that lengthens the leg, and a discreet silicone strip in the waistband to keep your shirt in place. They are delivered unhemmed so you can finish them locally in exactly the right length and in the style you like - plain or turned-up.
Three suits, two characters
One small subtlety: we've done the jacket in two different versions. Double-breasted for the striped navy version, and single-breasted for the plain navy and charcoal versions.
See you Tuesday
The Flannel Suit is available to preorder next Tuesday at 10 am. The jacket will be up for €279 on preorder, rising to €359 from stock. The trousers will be €159 on preorder, then €199. The jacket and trousers are available as separate items or as a full suit, as you wish.
Sign up just below to be notified an hour before everyone else. First to preorder, first delivered, shipping from the end of October.
ASPHALTE