Widespread Manufacturing: Our big project

Socially useful and economically sustainable

Within the logic of participating in the relaunch of the mountain economy ELBEC launched a widespread manufacturing project in 2018 for the creation of handmade products in Val Pettorina, in the heart of the Dolomites to the bottom of the Marmolada glacier.


The project allows anyone who knows how to crochet and knit to participate in the initiative by working from home, in the times and ways they prefer. The idea is to contribute to incomes by involving the people of the valley in a common project that enhances the human heritage and capabilities manuals that are slowly disappearing

These are beanies and headbands handmade with the highest quality yarns, extremely attentive to the health of the animal, the user and the environment.
All our handmade hats and headbands in organic merino wool are on sale on our website under: accessories
divided by type, model and category of yarn.

unconventional handmade products for those of us who love the mountains

Our merino wool beanies, so like the cotton headbands and hats are made one by one by hand.

And yes, you understood correctly! In addition to the well-known classic beanies in pure organic merino wool, we also have a version for warmer temperatures. For people who don't like wool we have also cootn beanies. Cotton of corse does not have the properties of the wool but it is very pleasant to wear and can be a good accessory to have in a pocket iof your bag in case temperatures suddenly drop, as often happens in alpine summer.

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If you are more interested in to cotton or wool you can go to this article which talks about our organic cotton or go to see our hats from the Classic Short in pure organic cotton chlorine-free, otherwise continue reading and find out more on the "Manifattura Diffusa project" and its uniqueness.
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In our production we have a limited series of colors but always evolving and then there are those that have now become "must haves" for true mountain enthusiasts!

We're talking about the legendary VANZAROT!
VANZAROT are caps made with the remains of the production of other beanies.
In this case it is unique caps, always different from each other, precisely because they are matching the yarns is at the discretion of the craftsman who makes them.

It is impossible to find a VANZAROT in merino wool that is the same as another!

Headband headband in merino wool

Big Band headband in Italian Merinised wool

Products as unique as the people who wear them

uniqueness of our products are the result of the particularity of this project of sharing knowledge and traditions that we are experimenting in the heart of the Dolomites, in Val Pettorina, between Civetta and Marmolada!

The products of Manifattura Diffusa are available ONLINE on our SHOP - ACCESSORIES and it is impossible to find them in shops.

We like to think that our  hats and our headbands are unique products just like the person who made it and the person who will wear it. d

The ELBEC MAnifattura Diffusa "widespread manifacturing project" aims to achieve complete control of the supply chain by internalizing all the processes from the breeding of the sheep that provide the raw materials up to the marketing of the finished product .
Our vision is that of being able to have an entirely Italian zero kilometer product whose process is entirely controlled by us. An ambitious project on which we are working hard and for which we have achieved some satisfactory goals.

At the moment the yarns we use

• - 100% Organic Merino Wool spun, carded and dyed entirely in Italy without chlorine treatments, thus reducing the impacts of coloring on the environment substantially. The wool comes from organic farms in which the merino sheep are not subjected to mutilation or processing. to pesticide treatments harmful to the health of animals, workers and end users. GOTS and ICEA certification for most of them;
• - 100% Italian Merinised Wool, raised, carded and hand-dyed in Italy in an artisanal way. Definitely the most beautiful yarn sustainable thanks to the reduction of impacts related to transport;
• - 70% Virgin Wool 30% Organic Alpaca with GOTS and ICEA certification to ensure maximum respect for animals and end users;
• - Organic cotton from North Africa, from organic cultivation, spun and dyed in Italy without the use of chlorine;

Valeria Gallese's workshop where the skeins of Italian lalna are dyed

Berretto Dolomites Merino Organico

All our wool is strictly MULESING FREE - NO MULESING
Global Organic Textile Standard and ICEA are the certifications that we imperatively request from our fabric suppliers for both wool and cotton! The production of Italian merinized wool comes from extensive farms in Abruzzo with which we have direct relationships and doesn't have this kind of certification

As regards the internal bands of the caps which are made of merino jersey, we use production remains and remnants so the colors are not always the same and there may be differences even between identical models.

Attention to the environment in all phases of production

The wool we use comes from a certified New Zealand knitwear factory Bluesign® which ensures that during all stages of production there are no used chemical products. Furthermore, the wool comes from farms that are part of the ZQ Natural Fiber. It is an association of breeders who are committed to respecting a disciplinary complex that is based on sustainability, ethics and and traceability.

In summary we can say that breeders undertake not to practice mulesing and not to transport live animals in order to avoid their stress as much as possible and to allow them to move freely outdoors without any kind of of limitation.

VANZAROT cap made with waste

Big Band headband in Italian Merinized Wool hand-dyed with natural colours

Take care of our products. Buy less, protect and repair.

Handmade Manifattura Diffusa products must be hand washed in cold water

To keep the properties unchanged of our caps is It is important that washing is strictly done in cold water and by hand. For more information you can see all the practical measures to prolong the life of your merino wool garments.
Remember that in the event of a tear (branches, brambles, etc.) the wool is very easy to repair and does not require particular skills.
If you happen to ruin one of our garments, do not hesitate to contact our after-sales service for advice.

Purchasing an ELBEC product made within the Manifattura Diffusa context does not only mean adhering to our vision but concretely participating in our project.
It is not just about purchasing a beanies of excellent handmade organic merino wool but to contribute to the revitalization of a geographical area that is being emptied of its inhabitants by transforming itself into a playground that offers activities not necessarily sensitive to the context, culture and environment that welcomes them.

The Manifattura Diffusa project seeks to contribute to the relaunch of this wonderful and little-known valley of the Dolomites, trying to promote the uniqueness of the Dolomites and his culture through a project of sharing knowledge and traditions.

We like to think that our merino wool caps and our headbands are unique products just like you