Borsalino – From its founding in 1857 to today, the brand represents the elegance and quality of luxury hats made in Italy.
The brand continues to embody excellence, combining craftsmanship tradition and innovation. Each felt hat requires over 50 manual steps and seven weeks of work, while the hand-woven straw models can take up to six months to complete.
Founded on 4 April 1857 in Alessandria by Giuseppe Borsalino, the company Borsalino has become a symbol of Italian craftsmanship in the world. Giuseppe, after perfecting the art of hat-making in France, returned to Italy to start a workshop specialized in the production of felt hats. Thanks to his vision and dedication, the studio grew rapidly, becoming an industrial factory that in 1888 moved into a new plant designed by Arnaldo Gardella at Corso Cento Cannoni in Alessandria.
The quality of Borsalino hats won international recognition, including the Grand Prix at the Paris Universal Exhibition in 1900, which helped to spread the brand’s reputation globally. On the eve of World War I, the company produced about 2 million hats per year and employed over 2,500 workers, representing a significant resource for the Piedmont economy.
The company is also committed to environmental and social sustainability, as highlighted in its Sustainability Report. Borsalino is dedicated to responsible practices throughout the production chain, promoting the use of sustainable materials and supporting local communities involved in production.
The history and heritage of the brand are celebrated in the Borsalino Museum, inaugurated on 4 April 2023 in Alessandria, which offers visitors a journey into the tradition of Italian headwear and the evolution of hat design.
Borsalino is an example of how Italian craftsmanship can conquer the world, keeping alive a centuries-old tradition and adapting to contemporary needs without ever compromising the quality and elegance that distinguish the brand.
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