We often associate “luxury fashion” with brands flaunted in fashion weeks that have now reached household name status. But even in the world of high-end style, there exist hidden gems that only the utmost upper class can call their own—think A-listers, world leaders, and even blue-blooded royalty.
With most of these brands cultivating their air of exclusivity, these certain names in luxury may not ring many bells, at least for casual onlookers. For a quick sartorial 101, read on for our list of the most luxurious brands the wealthiest shoppers love to frequent.
1. Brunello Cucinelli
Decades after loaning $550 to launch a fashion line in 1978, Italian designer Brunello Cucinelli turned a fledgling dream into a three-billion-dollar empire, earning him the title of the “King of Cashmere.” Now, he dresses the upper echelon of Silicon Valley like Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and Instagram’s Kevin Systrom, with the designer’s line of spiffy and well-made cashmere sweaters. Even Facebook magnate Mark Zuckerberg, who infamously only wears grey T-shirts, have his tees reportedly custom-made by the Italian luxury designer.
Hollywood A-listers like Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Lopez, and Ben Affleck have also all been spotted as regular Brunello patrons. However, unlike other luxury labels, the brand doesn’t use celebs for ads, preferring to keep their relationships on the subtler side.
2. Stefano Ricci
With a clientele of self-made billionaires, world leaders, and notable figures like Nelson Mandela and Andrea Bocelli, the Italian menswear label Stefano Ricci offers a line of exotic hides, silk-blend evening suits, and other luxurious creations. Still, despite the big names that wear its pieces, the brand prefers to promote its pieces by cultivating relationships with older clients who are willing to splurge.
“We stay out of the media circus of the fashion show,” Stefano’s eldest son and the company’s CEO Niccoló Ricci said in an interview. “...We don’t do showtime 24/7.”
3. Cesare Attolini
Dubbed one of the great master tailors of the soft-shouldered suit, Italian designer Cesare Attolini took on the vision of his suitmaker father to craft the perfect Neapolitan jacket. With each suit created by hand during a whole-day process, the atelier has become a favorite of Tinseltown’s most distinguished men, from Clark Gable and Al Pacino to the more recent Denzel Washington.
4. Loro Piana
Founded in 1924 and known as the largest cashmere manufacturer, the Italian brand Loro Piana is synonymous with the quiet chic side of fashion. While the brand was acquired by LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton in 2013, the luxury house still keeps to its adage of “extraordinary fabrics and understated elegance” with intricately made woolen creations worn by politicians and stars like Bill Clinton, David Beckham, and Gigi Hadid.
5. Kiton
Neapolitan tailoring takes a special place in the closets of the one percent, with Kiton being another staple. Dating back to 1956 with textile merchant Ciro Paone at its helm, the Italian house prides its meticulous craftsmanship with suits made the traditional way. Here, each thread matters—so much so that they even established their own tailoring school. And like the other brands on the list, the Kiton name isn’t brandished on red carpets, but notable names like George Clooney definitely have it on their radar.
6. Brioni
A preference of former U.S. president Barack Obama and several James Bond iterations, menswear label Brioni has crafted bespoke suits since 1945, and is now a go-to for the most dapper styles with handmade offerings that each take 220 processing steps to create. The brand was acquired by Kering (the company behind Gucci, Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, and more) in 2011, but its ways of production still remain largely the same.
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