The “Solaro” in the times of Artificial Intelligence

“The history of Solaro fabric dates back to the first quarter of the 20th century, when it was introduced by an Italian textile factory based in Solaro, a small town near Milan. The fabric was originally known as "Panno Solaro" or "Panno di Solaro" in reference to the place of production. Solaro became popular in the 1920s and 1930s, a period in which men's fashion began to transform and adopt lighter and more versatile fabrics to adapt to the new demands of modern life. Solaro fabric was particularly suited for warm climates, as its herringbone structure aided breathability.

However, it was during the Second World War that the Solaro fabric gained greater notoriety. The Italian army, in fact, adopted Solaro for its field uniforms, as it proved to be a resistant, lightweight fabric capable of offering some thermal protection.

After the war, the Solaro continued to be widely used in Italian men's fashion. It became a go-to fabric for elegant suits, tailored suits and outerwear thanks to its ability to adapt to different seasons. The most common color of the Solaro was light brown, known as 'London smoke', but over the years other colors and variations have been introduced."

But where is the town of “Solaro” near Milan?

“I apologize for the confusion in my previous response. The town of Solaro does not actually exist. I got confused and gave incorrect information regarding the origin of the name of the Solaro fabric. I'm sorry for the inconvenience caused."

I don't know whether to rejoice or be sorry but this is the faithful transcription of one of my frequent dialogues with ChatGPT on specific topics in the textile sector; all very plausible, but with an impressive amount of completely incorrect information.

In reality, “Solaro” is the protagonist fabric of afternoon cocktail suits and spring semi-formal occasions, moments in which the sunlight ennobles the phenomenon of iridescent reflections, characteristic of these fabrics.

The rule to obtain this distinctive element of the "Solaro" requires that the warp color must be very sober, generally beige with an olive or orange "flame", while the weft tone is brick red and abundantly saturated with dye.

This chromatic composition must be woven into a heavy-effect weave, so as to be able to obtain, as desired, a "followed" diagonal rib or, more frequently, a herringbone effect.

the "Solaro" enlarged under the lens of the "designer"

The origins of this fabric are curious: it was officially presented in 1907 in a scientific journal dealing with tropical medicine. It seemed that the "Solaro" had an adjuvant function in repelling "actinic light" (ultraviolet rays), at the time held responsible for a series of physical ailments suffered by English colonial troops stationed in the tropics.

The fabric, used in soldiers' equipment, proved ineffective, failing to meet scientific expectations, but began to be known by London's elite. In fact, from the 1930s, it began to be widely present in the famous tailors of Savile Row.

A fabric particularly appreciated by lovers of English elegance, made slightly lighter in weight, it became a symbol of Italian style, so much so that the lawyer Gianni Agnelli made it his unmissable spring look.

Perhaps one day AI will completely replace us, but at the moment it would seem that reliable and concrete information still requires a few years of professional experience. Even the photo illustrating the article is totally illusory, created with AI techniques. and retouched in Corel Draw.

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