Milano knitwear: second chapter of the Le Minor Book of Fabrics
After exploring wool cloth - the house's historic material, emblematic of our kabigs and cabans - Le Minor opens a new chapter in its Livre des Étoffes with an equally structuring material: Milano knit. While drap embodies density and protection, Milano knitwear expresses a different, more architectural, almost tailor-like form of dress. Knitwear becomes fabric, knitwear becomes structure.
The Livre des Étoffes concept
The Livre des Étoffes Le Minor is conceived as a textile exploration, where each material tells a unique story. After the wool sheet, a mainstay of our wardrobe, Milano knitwear is a natural extension of this continuity. It illustrates our desire to examine the material in all its technical and aesthetic dimensions, revealing what makes it durable, structuring and timeless.
Each chapter highlights a fabric chosen for its character, its ability to withstand the seasons and its central role in our collections. Milano knitwear is no exception: it embodies the evolution of knitwear towards more structured forms, without ever forgoing comfort.
Dense, stable construction
Originating in Italy, Milano stitch is a double knit known for its density and stability.
Technically, acontexture Milano is the repetition of three rows: the 1x1 rib, the front jersey and the back jersey. Schematically, here's how we draw these 3 rows and how our technician-weavers and hosiery makers program it:
This specific construction gives it a remarkable hold: the knitwear deforms very little, retaining its structure and naturally following the lines of the garment.
Where other knits may loosen or poach over time, Milano maintains a clean, precise fall. Its even surface and firm hand create a reassuring sense of solidity, while retaining the suppleness inherent in knitwear. This duality - comfort and structure - is what makes Milano so unique.
A knit designed for the jacket
Thanks to its precise drape and durability, Milano knitwear lends itself particularly well to the art of making jackets. It allows us to imagine pieces halfway between knitwear and tailoring: from sleeveless vests to knitted blazers, teddies, coach jackets and revisited work jackets.
What sets these creations apart is their balance. They offer the natural ease of knitwear while retaining the structured look of a constructed garment. The result is a clean, contemporary silhouette that's easy to wear every day, yet assertive enough to structure an outfit.
Milano knitwear, a concentrate of Le Minor expertise
Milano knitwear is a symbol of Le Minor's knitting expertise: a pronounced taste for beauty, a knitwear that takes its time, and the sublimated craft of knitting.
On average, milano knitwear takes 1.5 to 2 times longer to knit than jersey or 1&1 rib. It takes time to form, and we accept this more costly technique because it's at the service of superior quality. Its aesthetics are on another level too: the fall of this knit, which brings it closer to canvas, achieves a rare elegance.
In 2025, we talked to you about this in a short film dedicated to milano zipped vests:
Integrated manufacturing in our workshops
True to its commitment to integrated manufacturing, Le Minor knits Milano knitwear in its own workshops. From the choice of yarns to the final confection, each stage is mastered in-house.
This approach guarantees regularity of knitting, precision of cut and quality of finish. It also ensures the durability of our garments, which are designed to keep their shape season after season. This technical mastery is in line with a responsible vision of clothing: produce less, but better, by favoring materials that are sustainable over time.
New silhouettes in Milano knitwear
The Milano knit jacket family has recently been enhanced with new silhouettes. The mao collar jacket makes its appearance in acid olive and navy blue, asserting a sleek, contemporary line. The cardigan for men also joins the collection, available in navy blue, royal blue, storm blue and olive green - a timeless, slightly mottled color dear to our collections.
These new pieces extend our vision ofa structured wardrobe, capable of evolving with the times while retaining a strong identity.
Conclusion: a forward-looking, structuring fabric
With Milano knitwear, Le Minor continues its exploration of structuring materials - those that shape the look of a garment and, beyond style, tell a textile story.
This second chapter in the Livre des Étoffes highlightsa knit fabric that combines comfort and architecture, suppleness and durability. A material designed to endure the years, faithful to the House's textile heritage while opening up new territories of expression.
Read the other chapters of our "book of fabrics":
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