Sa Su Phi | The Italian Luxury Alternative to The Row with Renowned Fabrics such as Zegna, Cariaggi,Lora Piana
Like Arch4 , Le Kasha, Lisa Yang, and Dreyden , these high-quality niche brands are ones I only discovered while shopping at Lane Crawford, and they’re rarely featured on social platforms like Xiaohongshu. I came across a high-neck cashmere sweater with detailed cuffs, priced at ¥13,000 RMB (about €1,300)—and it was a real find.
The entire high-neck cashmere collection by Sa Su Phi ranges between €1,200 and €2,200. Among these brands, the priciest thick turtleneck from Le Kasha is about €1,300, while a similar sweater from The Row can cost up to €3,000. At €1,200, The Row only offers ultra-thin cashmere sweaters, making it a reasonable alternative for The Row, although the price is still one to two times higher. Compared to The Row’s minimalist elegance, the styles of Arch4 , Le Kasha, and Lisa Yang can’t quite compete. However, if you’re looking for something like The Row’s basic Himus line, these smaller brands offer excellent alternatives.
Currently, Sa Su Phi collaborates exclusively with Lane Crawford in China, similar to Dreyden . The founder has emphasized that Sa Su Phi will not offer discounts, but respects the discretion of their retail partners to do so. Therefore, it’s worth checking Lane Crawford’s outlet store—especially as discounts on high-end items can offer substantial savings, even if prices are initially marked up compared to the brand’s official site.
High-neck styles are also popular at Toteme but Toteme’s materials don’t compare—they mainly use wool, with prices around €600, which isn’t in the same league as The Row or Sa Su Phi, so we’ll skip further discussion here.
Founded in 2021 by Sara Ferrero and Susanna Cucco in France, Sa Su Phi reflects Italian craftsmanship at its finest. The brand’s products are 100% made in Italy using luxurious wool, silk, and cotton sourced from prestigious Italian suppliers such as Colombo, Loro Piana, Cariaggi, Albini, Zegna, and Ratti. Currently, Sa Su Phi only offers women’s wear, with no men’s line yet.
Italian craftsmanship sets Sa Su Phi apart from the four niche cashmere brands I previously reviewed, as it is the only one that is made entirely in Italy. Even their cashmere pieces are Italian-made, unlike those produced in Inner Mongolia or Dongguan.
For a similar design, Italian-made products carry a premium due to the expertise involved, often costing several thousand more. Lane Crawford’s in-house brand, Equil, has also been moving more production to Italy, thus elevating its pricing and brand image. Another example is Giada, an Italian label headquartered in Shenzhen, which leverages its Italian roots to reinforce its brand positioning.
Being able to purchase Italian-made, 100% Italian-fabric pieces at half the price of The Row is a fantastic option. Sa Su Phi is still a young brand, established just three years ago, so now is an ideal time to explore it before potential price increases as it gains recognition. Sa Su Phi’s main challenge now is to increase its brand visibility in a fashion industry dominated by major conglomerates.
While Sa Su Phi hasn’t yet engaged in influencer marketing, its high-quality craftsmanship has already attracted the attention of discerning celebrities who have chosen to wear its pieces. Currently, the brand’s growth strategy is focused on partnerships with leading global retailers (Harrods, Bergdorf Goodman, Net-A-Porter, Luisa Via Roma, Lane Crawford), and direct retail locations are still a few years away.
SA SU PHI specializes in luxury knitwear and standalone pieces that allow for personalized expression. Although knitwear is the brand’s “hero product,” its collection has expanded rapidly and offers more than that. SA SU PHI’s distinctive style is highly recognizable, blending refinement with a sense of relaxed sophistication for an effortlessly stylish look. Through the use of geometric graphics, minimalist architectural inspiration, and intricate details, Sa Su Phi creates products that combine bold simplicity with a sense of poised elegance.
Brand Story
The founders of Sa Su Phi are Sara Ferrero, former CEO of Valextra, and Artistic Director Susanna Cucco.
Valextra was founded in Milan in 1937 by Giovanni Fontana, a leather goods brand known as the "Hermès of Italy" in the fashion world. While not widely recognized, Valextra is beloved among insiders for its luxurious, understated elegance. Established in an era of economic prosperity, the brand combined bold, innovative design with traditional craftsmanship, quickly establishing itself in the high-end market. With minimalist lines, structured silhouettes, and superb quality, Valextra’s products—ranging from handbags to small leather goods and luggage—exude functional luxury. This reputation as Italy’s "Hermès" stems from Valextra's focus on quality, functionality, and timeless engineering aesthetics.
Sara Ferrero shared insights into her journey in a recent interview:
“I began my career in investment banking in London in the 1990s, then spent six years as a strategy consultant at McKinsey. At 32, I took my first executive role as the General Manager of Furla, a position I held for five years. After that, I served as CEO at Joseph for five years and CEO at Valextra for six years. I also became a partner at the private equity firm Neo Investment Partners and an independent board member at Ferragamo. In 2021, after working for others for over 25 years, I decided to create my own brand at age 50, launching our first collection for Fall/Winter 2022. My goal was to build a brand rooted in long-term principles, one that reflected my core values: a brand by women, for women, designed to empower women. I invited my longtime friend and 18-year business partner, Susanna Cucco, to join me in this venture.”
The name SA SU PHI holds symbolic meaning: “SA” represents Sara, “SU” represents Susanna, and “PHI” symbolizes the golden ratio. Together, SA SU PHI embodies our brand’s philosophy—expressing the beauty of balance and harmony. The golden ratio represents the concept of “less is more”—elegance through simplicity, boldness, and a modern sensibility that transcends time. Created by women for women, the brand is crafted to empower those who are friends, mothers, wives, and professionals, helping them feel strong in any setting.
SA SU PHI’s design language is deeply inspired by architectural principles, emphasizing spatial balance, the interplay of light, and minimalism. This modern, timeless aesthetic is further supported by a fully transparent supply chain, aligned with our commitment to sustainability. In the luxury knitwear market, we’ve found significant opportunity by offering a quality alternative to brands like Loro Piana and Brunello Cucinelli, focusing on women-centric products that rival competitors such as The Row, Khaite, Toteme, Bottega Veneta, and Jil Sander.
SA SU PHI is pursuing B Corp certification, ensuring complete transparency across the supply chain by working exclusively with Italy’s top manufacturers. Internally, we adhere to a no-discount policy, viewing our products as seasonless, timeless investments. However, we allow retail partners to implement their own discount strategies. Our sustainability initiatives include a 12-month period to fully utilize surplus fabric, and we are deeply committed to empowering women—our brand is 100% female-owned and operated, and nearly all our suppliers are women-owned businesses. In Italy’s fashion industry, gender parity is still a distant goal, and we strive to make meaningful change.
Within less than six seasons, SA SU PHI has entered over 60 prestigious department stores and boutiques worldwide, including Harrods, Bergdorf Goodman, Net-A-Porter, Luisa Via Roma, Lane Crawford, Joyce, 10 Corso Como, Antonia, and Apropos, with distribution in the US, Italy, Germany, the UK, China, and Japan.
“In China, we are currently available exclusively at Lane Crawford locations in Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. Internationally, our strategy focuses on expanding our wholesale partnerships and deepening relationships with existing clients. In China, we aim to grow brand awareness through strategic partnerships with Lane Crawford and, eventually, additional partners. Opening our own retail stores is still a few years away.”
The brand’s signature products are fall and winter cashmere sweaters and cardigans, followed by wool coats and silk suits. Additional items include blouses, skirts, and trousers. (Prices shown in images below are in Hong Kong Dollars.)
cashmere
Cardigan
Sa Su Phi’s popular Jennifer Teddy Cardigan, now only available in size 40, features a unique blend of 48% cashmere, 32% alpaca, and 20% silk. Italian fabric suppliers truly offer remarkable variety, as this blend demonstrates.
In my review of Le Kasha, I mentioned my preference for oversized lapels with tightly knit cuffs, collars, and hems. Although I’m not fond of the color, the style and material of this cardigan are practically my dream design. Just look at the cozy, oversized lapel—a perfect balance of warmth and structure.
The cinched waist creates a flattering shape, with a boxy upper and a slimmer lower section for contrast. The sleeves are similarly styled, transitioning from a voluminous fit to a snug cuff, creating a pleasing contrast between the wide upper and narrow lower sections.
This kind of sophisticated shaping is something only high-end fashion brands achieve. Compared to Sa Su Phi, the four other cashmere brands I previously reviewed tend to have simpler, more basic designs without such bold, innovative style.
With the zipper open, the cardigan takes on a butterfly-like shape. The thick collar alone makes me want to wear it—it seems so warm, perfect for keeping the neck, shoulders, and upper back cozy.
There is an older model with a similar design made of 67% mohair and 28% nylon, but the material lacks the luxe feel, with a visible downgrade in fabric quality. The shape also isn’t as refined as this newer cashmere version.
Another iconic Sa Su Phi cardigan is the robe-style mid-length cardigan, available in black, gray, and beige. This design is more technical, with a unique silhouette.
Robe-style cardigans have been popularized by luxury brands like Kiton and N Peal, as well as Lisa Yang (with brushed Amina and knitted Fiora styles) and Le Kasha, both offering robe-style cashmere cardigans.
These cardigans vary in knit patterns and textures. Lisa Yang’s brushed cashmere and boucle knits differ from others that primarily use plain stitches and ribbing.
Sa Su Phi also offers a sleeveless cardigan in pink, red, and green, with an unusual fit. This cardigan features their distinctive ribbed design along the front edges, neckline, and shoulder seams—a signature fisherman rib pattern seen in many of their cashmere pieces.
There are also two thinner, more basic cardigans from Sa Su Phi, similar to those by Arch4 and Le Kasha. These have a relaxed, natural drape and a cinched hem to highlight the upper body, while the V-shaped neckline flows smoothly.
Sweater
Sa Su Phi’s cashmere sweaters feature stylish oversized silhouettes, often using a thick fisherman rib knit pattern for added texture.
This double-cuff sleeve sweater is designed with extra-long cuffs meant to be folded up, echoing a recent trend in cashmere design. Many cashmere brands have begun to incorporate extra-long sleeves that are meant to be folded, similar to double cuffs on men’s shirts, which are typically fastened with cufflinks after being folded.
Sa Su Phi currently offers two styles of double-cuff sweaters, including this round-neck style and another that I spotted at Lane Crawford’s outlet store.
Although this round-neck cashmere sweater appears basic from the front, it has a unique detail on the back: a keyhole cutout similar to Le Kasha’s Komaki cashmere sweater.
The round-neck cashmere sweater comes in four colors. Notice the relaxed hem—a signature of many Sa Su Phi cashmere sweaters that enhances their laid-back, chic appeal. The back also features a beautifully crafted line that narrows from the shoulder, which is especially striking in the yellow version. Brands with true design expertise pay attention to the lines and shapes of even their simplest pieces.
Another essential Sa Su Phi sweater is the Armor cashmere boat neck sweater, notable for its unique neckline. This style is my first encounter with a scalloped boat neck, featuring a shape that slightly conceals the front edge to create a fan-like form, paired with a Y-shaped ribbing pattern that resembles a ginkgo leaf.
Available in red, green, and camel, this piece showcases Sa Su Phi’s bold approach to both design and color selection—going beyond the usual black, white, and gray. I think this sweater is the best fit for petite wearers, with its high waistline giving a taller appearance. Most other designs are oversized, with longer lengths and relaxed silhouettes.
Next, Sa Su Phi’s high-neck collection features its most regal and distinctive sweaters with slit designs.
The high neck cashmere long sweater is a standout, offered in five colors, making it one of the most popular items in the collection. This piece exemplifies why Sa Su Phi could be seen as the Italian answer to The Row. With Italian premium fabrics and meticulously crafted silhouettes, Sa Su Phi is one of the most fashion-forward brands in the cashmere sector.
At first glance, this mid-length high-neck cashmere sweater appears similar to the loose high-neck styles popular in recent years, like the Heidi and Therese collections from Lisa Yang or the Iowa and Socotra lines from Le Kasha. However, Sa Su Phi’s version is more voluminous and longer, creating a distinct statement.
This design reminded me of Lisa Yang’s previous Zaya vest with a similar slit detail.
One of Sa Su Phi’s high-neck sweaters also features a back keyhole cutout, like the Komaki style from Le Kasha, allowing it to be worn front or back.
Dress
Currently, Sa Su Phi has only one cashmere dress: a mid-short, high-neck style. While it’s beautiful, it may not be the most practical—high-neck cashmere dresses aren’t typically worn in seasons warm enough for a dress.
In addition to yellow, this dress is also available in black and gray.
The neckline design is reminiscent of Lisa Yang’s new vest style this season.
Wool
For fall and winter, Sa Su Phi primarily uses wool for its outerwear, while summer silk blazers also incorporate around 40% wool.
Coat
Sa Su Phi’s only 100% cashmere coat is the Valentina Double Cashmere Coat, a sleek black double-faced design with a belt. All other coats are made from blends of at least 60% virgin wool with cashmere.
This style also comes in a 90% wool version. Though it shares the same design, the material difference results in a price difference of around ¥18,000 RMB.
The wool version is available in black and green, with a sleek stand collar, silver clasp at the neckline, and a simple, streamlined look. It can be styled with or without the belt for versatility. Sa Su Phi’s coats have room for further refinement in terms of variety and style.
There’s also a shorter, single-color green version that falls to the waist.
Another 90% wool option is a long, robe-style coat with a notched lapel, a design widely available in the market and considered an entry-level silhouette for coats.
Another option in 90% wool is a tailored flannel wool blazer with a streamlined H-cut silhouette, offering a classic, basic style.
There’s also a blue pinstripe version of this blazer, but it’s sold out in most sizes, with the gray version proving particularly popular.
The website also features two off-white wool coats made from a blend of 70% virgin wool and 30% cashmere, available in both black and white.
This coat’s color is beautifully creamy and fresh. The sleeves have a slight bell shape, and the overall cut flares slightly from top to bottom, featuring Sa Su Phi’s signature fisherman rib or basketweave knitting.
A more minimal version of this coat, with the same fabric, lacks the belt and buttons, offering a clean design with two large pockets as a defining feature.
Pants
My favorite Sa Su Phi wool pants are two pleated, relaxed-fit styles that offer a comfortable, slightly slouchy look. Both are long, floor-length trousers.
The first pair, made of 90% virgin wool and 8% cashmere, are the Bogart flannel wool trousers, designed to match the gray wool blazer mentioned earlier.
These trousers have a loose, elongated fit, ideal for taller frames.
Another option is a 100% virgin wool trouser available in white, pink, and black. The model’s top in the image is made from viscose, not silk, so I haven’t highlighted it here.
The Andrea Wool Regular Trousers have a straighter cut than the Bogart style, with a slightly more tailored fit. The crisp pleats are visible from both the front and back, creating a clean, sophisticated look.
Silk
Blazer
Side slits and fisherman ribbing may define Sa Su Phi’s cashmere sweaters, but for the silk-wool blazer collection, it’s the glossy fabric that stands out. Sa Su Phi frequently uses this reflective silk material across pieces, including dresses and shirts.
From the material alone, you can sense this blazer’s smoothness and shine, qualities inherent in the fabric from high-end suppliers. It has a broad-shouldered, tailored fit. When worn without a belt, it has an H-shaped silhouette; with the belt tied, it forms an X-shape with a relaxed drape, adding an effortless touch to the blazer’s structured style.
There is also a longer coat version in the same material, made of 61% mulberry silk and 39% virgin wool.
This overcoat style is fairly common, but it’s rare to see it crafted in lightweight silk for summer. Available in both black and white.
If you focus on the upper body, the longer style resembles the blazer with its H-shaped cut. The added length, paired with heels, gives an elegant, authoritative vibe.
Tops
Here are three silk tops and dresses by Sa Su Phi. Although the brand focuses on cashmere knits, these selections offer a glimpse into the summer design aesthetic.
Cotton
For cotton pieces, I selected this H-shaped trench coat. It’s beautifully simple and sophisticated, with wide lapels that add structure, and a straight neckline that exudes a clean, polished look. The sleeves feature decorative straps with buckles.
This trench is also available in green, and unlike traditional designs, it has no back storm flap, giving it a more streamlined look.
Epilogue
Writing about clothes lately has deepened my understanding of garment structure. I used to focus solely on fabric, but now I’m willing to invest in the cut and style as well. International designers especially excel at creating structured, non-frumpy silhouettes—whether it’s a trench coat, trousers, or cashmere sweater, each piece has its own lines and character.
This has been a successful introduction to Sa Su Phi, and I’m particularly drawn to their cashmere and wool collections. However, many pieces aren’t ideal for those under 160 cm tall, with only a few options that fit petite frames well.
Currently, Sa Su Phi is only available in China through Lane Crawford, but their selection is limited and leans conservative. Domestic consumer tastes still lag behind those in Italy and France.
