Not that my corroboration is needed, but I'd agree with FNB's observations on the English.
Very well observed.

Thank you for your help, Marc. I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate the help.

Just to provide a little update:

I spoke with OWTextiles today about Acorn fabrics. The rep is really great; and, he will be sending swatch cards my way. This makes me very happy.

I also spoke to a jobber in Toronto who reps both suitings and shirtings. He can get me Thomas Mason, Palladini, and several others direct from the mill for much less than my previous supplier has been charging me. He also tells me that I can extend my suitings offering from Holland & Sherry & Dormeuil to include: Zegna, Reda, Barberis, Loro Piana, etc. I'll be visiting their booth at a Denver trade show this weekend, so I'm eager to find other sources.

I have to tell you folks that I was a little depressed, last month. The H&S and Dormeuil books arrived for 2007 with a markedly more expensive price tag (both for the book and the yardage). I can't justify the chasm to customers, so I'm actively seeking new suppliers. I foresee several trips to Montreal and Toronto in the near future.

I will attempt to contact Mr Montero to see if he will sell Riva to me. It's funny that Charvet was turned down; but, industry folks operate under different principles. It may be that Charvet's supply chain manager's personality simply didn't mesh with Mr Montero's. Or it could've been that Montero only likes to support smaller ventures. It's difficult to speculate.

JS, Look into Baberis and Carlo Barbera for suits and SIC Tess for shirts.  SIC Tess is close behind Riva but more obtainable because they are larger---Probably 15x larger than Riva.  Plus, most men have not heard of Riva and might not appreciate it anyway.  Testa is good, too.  I'll be seeing a swatch book from a new name in Italian shirtings in a few days (at least new for me) that is supposed to be golden and I'll let you know more.

The other thing about Riva and similarly sheer cottons is they will not not have universal appeal.  Many, maybe most, men (and their significant others) are accustomed to a more "substantial" look and feel to their shirts and would be put-off by steep prices of shirts that are not "perceived" to be worth those prices.  I was one such person who had been averse to supefine cottons, until I learned though personal experience of their durability and resistance to wrinkling, which is directly attributed to their high quality.

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