Though their clothes came from the best sources, made of English and Italian fabrics, they could not conceal their ignorance of traditional good manners.

Many American designers depend on Italian fabrics for their collections.

Ms. Karan has made her prototypes out of muslins, hoping to cut the Italian fabrics the instant they arrive.

"Before, my style was New York brash," says Blum, who generally still wears Italian fabrics, but in custom-made suits.

He buys the same fine French and Italian fabrics the European couturiers use.

This small, funky property has all the rooms individually decorated in Italian fabrics and is just steps away from the quiet white sandy beach.

Mr. Menichetti, who worked on Jil Sander's men's wear line for four years, comes from a family of Italian fabric and clothing manufacturers.

The components of his company, Raja Fashions, are, as he put it: "Italian fabrics.

Wiegman generally shows players about 10 different high-grade Italian fabrics from which they can choose their suit cloth.

Ms. Karan said late shipments plagued many designers who bought Italian fabric.