A Life Devoted to Cashmere
Costanza Castellani has spent over thirty years at the heart of Italian luxury knitwear, learning from the finest, refining her craft, and building the vision that would one day become Soft Firenze.
Born in Tuscany into a family with deep roots in fashion and craftsmanship, Costanza chose cashmere at the age of twenty, and never looked back. What began as a personal bond became a lifelong pursuit of excellence, leading her through two decades at the helm of Italy’s most prestigious luxury knitwear houses.
Today, Soft Firenze is the result of that journey: a collection born quietly, with care, from a dream she had kept to herself for years. Every piece carries the weight of that experience, and the lightness of cashmere that only the finest hands can achieve.
“Cashmere has never been simply a material. It has been the thread running through my entire life.”
Long Before the
First Collection
Costanza grew up in Tuscany, surrounded by the world of fashion and craftsmanship. Coming from a family who ran their own fur company in Empoli, she understood from an early age the value of quality materials and careful work. But it was cashmere that captured her imagination.
At the age of twenty, she made a decision that would define her life: to start her own cashmere knitwear business. It was a bold choice, and one she never looked back on. “It was in the early 1990s when I began to want more of a challenge,” she recalls. After six years building her own brand, she felt the pull to go deeper, into production, into sourcing, into the very origin of the materials she loved.
Building a Vision
For more than twenty years, Costanza worked alongside some of the most respected names in Italian luxury knitwear. Every collection, every production process and every collaboration became an opportunity to deepen her understanding of quality, craftsmanship and the pursuit of excellence.
Working closely with some of Italy's leading luxury manufacturers gave her a unique perspective on what truly defines exceptional knitwear. Those years refined not only her technical expertise, but also the philosophy that continues to guide Soft Firenze today: every garment is the result of experience, precision and countless thoughtful decisions made with care.
“During those two decades, I grew professionally thanks to the help of many experienced people.”
The passion for my work has always pushed me to look for perfection in the creation of cashmere garments. I have met so many people of great ability who work with passion and professionalism, and who put their heart into what they do.
The Art of Beginning
In 2017, Costanza took another defining step by opening her own technical consultancy studio in Florence. After decades spent working behind the scenes for some of Italy's most respected knitwear manufacturers, she was finally ready to shape a vision entirely her own.
“The dream I had hidden in a drawer for years finally became Soft Firenze.”
From that moment, every collection became the natural expression of a lifetime devoted to cashmere. Today, Soft Firenze embodies everything she values: Italian craftsmanship, uncompromising quality and garments designed to last beyond seasons.
Handmade with Passion
Meticulously crafted by skilled artisans, each garment reflects generations of expertise and a deep passion for exceptional workmanship. Soft Firenze combines refined design with traditional techniques to create distinctive, one-of-a-kind pieces.
The Art of Hand-Dyeing
The finest cashmere is transformed through delicate spray-dyeing techniques, creating soft and ethereal shades. Each stole is then enriched with hand-painted or hand-embroidered details by skilled artisans.
Each Garment
Has Its Own Story
Exceptional Italian cashmere, artisanal craftsmanship and timeless elegance. Every Soft Firenze creation begins in Tuscany and is finished entirely by hand.
Explore the Collection