There’s a new name in luxury T’s at Mountain Air, and it’s the Montreal designed ça va de soi, which translates literally to “that goes on its own” suggests something that’s automatic or that goes without saying. ça va de soi specializes in simple concept, high quality T’s and sweaters, made from top-notch materials. This fall, Mountain Air has two designs and three colours of the ça va de soi button up and v-neck sweater made of super 160 merino wool, 15.5-micron Italian yarn. But what does that mean?

ça va de soi’s Italian yarn label primarily means that the yarn that goes into their products is “entirely processed, dyed and spun in Italy.” Not only does this provide an alternative to foreign, cheaply manufactured items, but it supports a threatened Italian industry that focuses producing an innovative, high-grade luxury product that can’t be found anywhere else in the world.[1] ça va de soi’s profile on LinkedIn makes its commitment to quality clear:

“The time we’ve taken to meet master spinners from

Italy — the best in the world — who give body,

elegance and colour to the raw materials. The time

to do things well and to pay attention to the imperceptible

details that transform clothing from simple

to unique, and that eliminates the boundaries

between seasons, eras and generations.[2]”

While the idea of slow fashion isn’t nearly as en vogue as the slow food revolution, it does get press from time to time, from growing popular discomfort with sweatshop labour and low quality throwaway fashion, and even Vivienne Westwood is telling people to buy fewer clothes but better quality. In the case of ça va de soi, the extra time put into selecting material for their fashions does result in higher quality garments.

The Super 160, the yarn that can be found in ça va de soi’s cardigans at Mountain Air, is merino wool fibre from Australia that has been spun by these Italian master weavers, renowned as some of the best in the world. You would have to be a pro to produce threads from fibres 15.5 microns in diameter (the industry standard is 20 microns, whereas a human hair is a massive 100 microns wide). This fibre is difficult to produce, and relies on a lot of things going right to produce it from the conditions under which the sheep live to the way it’s spun and dyed. The advantages of the Super 160 15.5 micron thread includes increased durability and pill resistance, and a higher degree of stretch naturally in the fibre itself.

Treat yourself to something that’s both luxurious and sensible.