VBC vs. Loro Piana: Brand comparison [2026 updated]

VBC offers refined, modern Italian luxury with a focus on innovative textiles and versatile casualwear at a premium price point. In contrast, Loro Piana operates in the ultra-luxury tier, renowned globally for sourcing the world's rarest and finest natural fibers like vicuña and baby cashmere to create timeless, minimalist investment pieces at a significantly higher price.

Let's break down the details to help you decide which Italian luxury house aligns with your wardrobe and values.

VBC: Refined Casual Luxury

VBC (Valentino Borsalino & C.) is an Italian luxury brand that has earned its reputation through exceptional craftsmanship in high-end textiles and modern menswear. VBC combines traditional Italian tailoring with innovative fabric technologies, producing sophisticated yet relaxed collections of knitwear, shirts, and outerwear. The brand appeals to a customer who values understated style, high-quality materials, and timeless design in their everyday essentials.

• Product mix: The collection centers on refined casualwear, including luxurious knitwear, tailored shirts, and elegant outerwear. VBC bridges the gap between formal and casual, offering high-quality essentials for a modern wardrobe.
• Price point: VBC is a premium luxury brand. A cashmere sweater typically falls in the $800 to $1,200 range, while tailored coats are priced between $2,000 and $4,000, making it a more accessible entry into Italian luxury compared to its ultra-high-end counterparts.
• Quality & Materials: VBC uses high-quality cashmere, merino wool, and premium cotton. A key feature is their innovative treatment of fabrics, which enhances softness, durability, and practical performance.
• Style & Aesthetic: The brand's style is sophisticated and relaxed. Expect minimalist designs, classic silhouettes with modern updates, clean lines, and a primarily neutral color palette.
• Sizing/Fit: Garments generally fit true to size, offering a relaxed but tailored silhouette that is cut to flatter without being restrictive. Sizing is consistent, typically available from XS to XXL.

VBC excels at offering understated, high-quality garments that blend timeless Italian style with modern functionality.

Shop VBC: vbc.it

Loro Piana: The Pinnacle of Fine Textiles

Loro Piana is the global benchmark for ultra-luxury textiles and clothing, celebrated for its mastery of the finest and rarest natural fibers on earth. The brand has built its identity on sourcing materials like vicuña - often called the "fiber of the gods" - and baby cashmere, transforming them into impeccably crafted garments. Loro Piana's clothing is unapologetically luxurious, focusing on quiet elegance, supreme comfort, and quality designed to last a lifetime.

• Product mix: Loro Piana offers clothing, accessories, and textiles that serve as true investment pieces. Their collections are defined by iconic sweaters, unstructured outerwear, and accessories made from exclusive materials.
• Price point: Positioned at the highest end of the luxury market, prices reflect the rarity of materials. A cashmere sweater typically starts around $1,200 and can easily exceed $2,500, with coats and vicuña pieces ranging from $4,000 to over $10,000.
• Quality & Materials: Unsurpassed. Loro Piana is famous for its exclusive access to rare fibers. Their garments are known for an almost unbelievable softness, light weight, and natural performance, earning them a reputation for being the most comfortable clothes money can buy.
• Style & Aesthetic: The aesthetic is defined by minimalist sophistication. The designs are intentionally simple and timeless, created to let the extraordinary quality of the materials take center stage. The color palette is composed of soft, neutral tones like beige, gray, and navy.
• Sizing/Fit: Sizing is standard, with most pieces offering a classic, comfortable fit. The silhouette is often slightly relaxed or oversized to enhance comfort and layering potential.

Loro Piana is the definitive choice for those who want the absolute finest materials in the world, crafted into timeless, minimalist designs.

Shop Loro Piana: loropiana.com

VBC vs. Loro Piana Comparison

Price Comparison

The most significant difference between the two brands is price. VBC is firmly in the premium luxury category, offering high-quality pieces that are an investment but remain within reach for many luxury shoppers. A complete outfit from VBC will be a considerable purchase, but it generally sits at one-half to one-third the price of an equivalent from Loro Piana.

Loro Piana operates in a different stratum altogether. Its prices are driven by the expense and difficulty of sourcing the world's most exclusive raw materials. Customers are paying not just for a garment, but for access to materials that very few brands can procure, making it a true ultra-luxury investment brand.

Quality & Materials

Both brands produce exceptional quality garments, but their focus differs. VBC's strength lies in its use of very high-quality wools and cashmeres, often enhanced with innovative treatments for better performance and texture. The craftsmanship is excellent, with a focus on precise Italian tailoring.

Loro Piana is a textile house first and foremost, and this is where it is unmatched. The brand’s direct sourcing of rare fibers like vicuña from Peru and baby cashmere from Mongolia provides materials with a softness and warmth that are noticeably superior to almost anything else on the market. If your top priority is the absolute best-feeling fabric against your skin, Loro Piana has no equal.

Style & Aesthetic

While both brands favor an understated look, their style expressions are distinct. VBC's aesthetic is clean and modern, blending classic tailoring with a relaxed, contemporary feel. Their pieces are designed to be stylish and versatile, easily worn in a smart casual office or on a weekend trip.

Loro Piana's style is even more minimalist and timeless. The designs - often unstructured and simple - are meant to be almost invisible, serving as a clean canvas to showcase the fabric. The aesthetic prioritizes effortless elegance and comfort over trends, resulting in pieces that look as good today as they will in 20 years.

Fit & Sizing

VBC offers a cut that is best described as relaxed but tailored. Fit is a priority, and their garments are designed to provide a sharp silhouette without feeling tight or restrictive. Sizing is reliable and follows standard European conventions.

Loro Piana's fit is generally more relaxed, reflecting the brand's emphasis on comfort and effortless movement. Outerwear and knits often have a more generous, sometimes oversized, silhouette that is ideal for layering. While the fit is relaxed, the drape of the luxurious fabric ensures it never looks sloppy.

Shopping Experience

Both brands provide a luxury shopping experience, whether online or in-store. VBC's website is detailed and user-friendly, and its boutiques offer attentive, personalized service. They focus on explaining the craftsmanship and unique fabric properties of their products.

The Loro Piana experience is one of pure exclusivity. Their online store is sleek and full of stories about their material sourcing, and their physical boutiques are quiet, intimate spaces. They offer a higher level of personalization, including private appointments and made-to-measure services.

Sustainability & Ethics

As a leader in natural fibers, Loro Piana has a highly publicized commitment to sustainability. The brand is transparent about its ethical sourcing processes, which support local communities and promote animal welfare, particularly in the preservation of the vicuña. This commitment is a core part of their brand identity.

VBC also engages in responsible and sustainable manufacturing practices, using high-quality natural fibers and employing eco-conscious processes. While perhaps not as central to their public narrative as Loro Piana, their dedication to quality craftsmanship implies a long-term approach to production.

Which One Should You Choose?

Both VBC and Loro Piana represent the best of Italian craftsmanship, but they cater to slightly different luxury consumers.

Choose VBC if:

• You want modern Italian style with a relaxed yet tailored feel.
• Your budget is in the premium luxury bracket, but short of the ultra-luxury tier.
• You value versatile, sophisticated garments you can wear for almost any occasion.
• Innovative fabric treatments and high-quality construction are important to you.

Choose Loro Piana if:

• You demand the absolute finest and rarest materials in the world, like vicuña and baby cashmere.
• Price is less of a concern than unparalleled quality, comfort, and exclusivity.
• Your personal style is minimalist and timeless, and you prefer to invest in heirloom pieces.
• A brand's commitment to ethical and sustainable sourcing is a key factor in your decision.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Loro Piana better than VBC?

It's not about one being "better," but what each specializes in. Loro Piana is objectively superior in the rarity and quality of its raw materials. However, VBC offers fantastic craftsmanship and style at a more accessible luxury price, making it a better value proposition for many.

Which brand is more expensive?

Loro Piana is significantly more expensive than VBC. The price difference reflects Loro Piana's use of extremely rare and costly fibers like vicuña, which few other brands have access to.

What is Loro Piana famous for?

Loro Piana is famous for its unrivaled expertise in processing noble fibers, particularly cashmere and vicuña. The brand is a symbol of understated, "quiet luxury" - exceptionally high-quality pieces without prominent logos.

What style is VBC known for?

VBC is known for a sophisticated yet relaxed aesthetic. Its style blends the sharp clarity of classic Italian tailoring with the ease of modern casualwear, creating versatile essentials for the discerning man.

Do VBC and Loro Piana clothes fit true to size?

Yes, both brands generally fit true to standard sizing. VBC's fit is typically more tailored, while Loro Piana often opts for a slightly more relaxed and comfortable silhouette to complement its soft materials.

Is VBC worth the investment?

Yes. For shoppers looking to enter the Italian luxury space, VBC provides garments with excellent materials, timeless style, and durable craftsmanship, making it a very worthwhile investment.

Why is Loro Piana so expensive?

The brand's prices are a direct result of the cost of its raw materials. Vicuña fiber can only be collected ethically from wild animals once every two years, making it incredibly rare and expensive. This, combined with meticulous Italian craftsmanship, defines its price point.

Are Loro Piana's materials ethically sourced?

Yes, Loro Piana is a leader in ethical and sustainable sourcing. The brand has worked for decades to create transparent supply chains that protect animal welfare and support the indigenous communities that help harvest the rare fibers.