King's Bounty

An inside look at the birthplace of extraordinary Merino fabrics that earn the rarest of accolades at Loro Piana: The Gift of Kings

- JONATHAN HO

IT MAY NOT BE READILY APPARENT, but when you think about it - sheep have been an essential element of the growth of civilisations. One of the earliest animals to be domesticated for agricultural purposes, these Ovis Aries have shaped the world we know today. It was not until the Neolithic Era that sheep - which were initially raised for meat, milk and skins - were selectively bred to produce finer quality wool. As ancient people transitioned from nomadic lifestyles to permanent settlements, looms were used to transform wool fibres into woven textiles, which enabled us to settle even the coldest frontiers.