What Valstar is known for

Milan outerwear house founded in 1911; in 1935 it introduced the Valstarino, a goat-suede blouson adapted from the American A-1 flight jacket, which won royal warrants from the House of Savoy in 1939 and the Duke of Ancona in 1942 and is still handmade in Italy.

Valstar was founded in Milan in 1911, initially producing waterproof outdoor clothing in heavy cotton fabrics rather than the suede jackets it later became known for. Its defining piece arrived in 1935: the Valstarino, an Italian reworking of the American A-1 military flight jacket, made from goat suede with two flap pockets, horn buttons, a knitted waistband, and a stand-up collar and cuffs. It is widely credited as one of the first bomber-style jackets designed for civilian wear rather than military use. The jacket's reputation grew quickly in Italy: Valstar received royal warrants naming it official supplier to HRH the Princess of Savoy in 1939 and to the Duke of Ancona in 1942. In 2009 the Valstarino was included in the 'From Sign to Dream' design exhibition in Milan, shown alongside other recognized pieces of Italian design such as the Bialetti coffee pot and the Fiat 500. Valstarino jackets are still made by hand in Italy, and Valstar continues to produce outerwear, knitwear and coats for men under the same name.