The flannel trousers
€135 for a pair of trousers might seem like a lot. But it's hard to do it for less: wool flannels are very expensive fabrics, especially since we chose a more hard-wearing combed wool. On top of that, these trousers call for lengthy, careful making (elasticated waistband at the back, button + hook closure, zipped back pocket…) done in Portugal (it's pricier than in Eastern Europe, Turkey or the Maghreb, but it guarantees better working conditions).
Released in October 2023
Released in October 2024
New wool fabric from Vitale Barberis Canonico: the look is more velvety and less shiny, but the wool is no longer "superwash" — the trousers must be washed by hand or in a machine on a "wool programme" to avoid felting
New cut, a little less fitted on the leg
Just soft, warm wool (no need for elastane, since wool is naturally stretchy)
Lightly brushed wool cloth (for a downy feel and better warmth retention) from the Italian mill Vitale Barberis Canonico
Fitted without being tight, the semi-slim cut follows the line of your leg
These trousers are made in the Portuguese factory Lanca, which we've worked with since 2024 (on the recommendation of Drapeau Noir, a fellow brand we're friends with)
The techniques behind the quality
Combed wool
It's a wool from which the shorter fibres have been removed: according to our lab tests, it's more resistant to holes than a carded wool (meaning one that hasn't been combed)
Combed wool
Two-ply yarn
Super 120s
Two-ply yarn
The yarns are twisted together (like making a cable) before being woven, for greater durability.
Combed wool
Two-ply yarn
Super 120s
Super 120s
A fabric made from very fine wool fibres (less than 18 microns in diameter), which gives it exceptional softness.
Combed wool
Two-ply yarn
Super 120s
A warm and elegant pair of trousers
For these trousers, we chose a soft wool flannel from Vitale Barberis Canonico, a prestigious Italian mill. It's comfortable as well as elegant, thanks to the elasticated waistband at the back and the natural stretch of the wool. Who said looking good has to hurt?
In detail
Marl colours
Heathered colours are made by blending fibres of different colours. This gives the shades more depth… and makes stains harder to spot.
Zipped back pocket
So you don't lose your coins in the couch.
Elasticated waistband
For extra comfort, but only at the back so it doesn't spoil the elegance of the trousers.
Hem folded to the inside
To lengthen the trousers if needed.
Zip fly
YKK zip, the go-to Japanese brand for quality zips.
How to wear it
A few ideas if you're stuck
Composition
100% wool
Origin and certifications
- Wool: Australia, New Zealand
- Spinning, dyeing, weaving: Italy
- Making-up: Portugal
... made in Portugal and not in France? Of course, producing in Portugal lets us sell at a lower price. But it's also easier to get good quality there: back in the 80s, when France was offshoring its industry, Portugal was building its own up. That said, others besides us do manage to make excellent wool trousers made in France, like Belleville.
... not wool from French sheep? Sadly, the wool-processing industry has all but disappeared in France, largely under competition from countries in the southern hemisphere... It's very hard for us today to find French yarn on the market at the price and quality we're after, but some brands like Laines Paysannes or Ardelaine manage to make some really lovely pieces from French wool.
How this product will age
How do we know? We ask our customers what they think of the product one year after they've bought it. And if the product is less than a year old, we give you our predictions based on some spontaneous feedback and on our experience with similar products.
These trousers should age very well and avoid two of the syndromes that affect worn-out trousers: no fading (wool holds its colours very well) and no sagging (wool naturally returns to its shape after being stretched).
Wool's only downside is that it's less abrasion-resistant than cotton: this isn't the pair to wear every day if you cycle to work or often crawl around on gravel (even though we chose a so-called "combed" wool, where the shorter fibres are removed, giving twice the abrasion resistance of standard wools – resisting 18,000 cycles vs. 10,000 cycles in our lab tests).
On the other hand (and this isn't intuitive), since the fabric is very soft, it's less likely to wear through at the crotch than your thick, rough jeans – more on the why and how here.
Last but not least: this wool isn't treated – if it's machine-washed normally, it will felt and shrink (this photo shows what might happen if you do). But if you follow the washing instructions, there won't be any problem (hand wash or wool cycle).
Care instructions
Wool is anti-bacterial: this means it doesn't hold on to odours. So there's no need to wash these trousers — just air them out now and then and dab them with a damp sponge if they get stained.
Careful — these trousers can't go through a standard washing machine cycle: if you want to give yourself a fright, this photo shows what can happen if you do. So if you really want to wash them, put them in the machine on a wool cycle (not to be confused with the "delicate" cycle) or wash them by hand (not too hot, and without rubbing, otherwise the wool may felt).
If you find them too long, you can take them to your tailor to have them hemmed. If you find them too short, you can ask them to undo the hem that's been folded up inside.
The downside of wool is that it's less resistant to abrasion than cotton: this means it's not the pair of trousers to wear every day if you cycle to work or often crawl around on gravel. But the good news is that holes can be repaired… if you see any holes appearing, take them straight to your local tailor: since the colour is marled, the repair will be very discreet.
Tumble drying is not allowed, but ironing is recommended — inside out and not too hot, to avoid leaving marks.
Environmental cost
This environmental cost is calculated using the official methodology of the French environmental labelling scheme (in force since 1 October 2025).
The label above shows the product's environmental cost according to the official methodology of the French environmental labelling scheme. It's what its manufacture "costs" nature when you look at its impact on climate change, ocean acidification, its toxicity to freshwater, and so on. Currently rolled out in the textile sector, this label should soon appear on many everyday consumer products (food, cosmetics, furniture, etc.) to help you shop more responsibly.
The flannel trousers therefore have an environmental cost of 1938 impact points*.
For comparison, a garment of equivalent weight, 100% polyester, made in Bangladesh and sold by a fast fashion brand, has an environmental cost of 2240 points*.
Why the difference? Here are the main reasons:
- The countries of production: manufacturing in Portugal or France requires less fossil fuel than in Bangladesh (one of the main producers of low-cost clothing). The result: this more local manufacturing limits the impacts on climate change, ocean acidification and resource depletion.
- The material: wool has a fairly significant environmental impact, in particular because sheep release methane when they digest their food, a gas with a strong greenhouse effect. That's why the difference between our product's impact and that of fast fashion isn't very large. That said, unlike polyester, wool has big advantages: it's warm (thanks to its insulating properties), keeps its shape (the fibre is very elastic), breathable (it wicks away sweat) and odour-resistant (it prevents bacteria from developing).
- Durability: fast fashion brands encourage buying, in particular by refreshing their collections very quickly and offering a huge number of styles, and they discourage repairs by charging ridiculously low prices. This increases the number of garments sold per person and reduces the number of times a garment is worn. At Loom, on the other hand, we've chosen business practices that encourage our customers to keep their clothes for as long as possible.
Even though we've done everything we can to make it as low as possible, this product's environmental impact isn't negligible. So before you buy, make your clothes last as long as you can.
*Calculations made by Loom on 31 August 2026. Click the links to view the simulations from the official Ecobalyse tool and get more details on the assumptions used. Please note: the number of points isn't always exactly the same on Ecobalyse (whose method evolves regularly) as on the official environmental label (based on version 7.0 of Ecobalyse)
Reviews for this product
The standard practice is to send review request e-mails a few days after the purchase. We wait a month, the minimum time needed to form a well-informed opinion
Customer review policy
When do you ask customers for reviews?
We send you a review request one month after you receive your order. We reckon that's the minimum amount of time needed to have worn and washed a garment several times and to really form a well-informed opinion. After that, all your reviews are published within the week, whether they're good or not.
Do you ask for reviews on 100% of the products customers order?
We used to do that at first, then we realised we were starting to send far too many emails to some people who buy from us regularly. In short, we were spamming a bit. On top of that, it was starting to take up way too much of the team's time to reply to reviews - since we want to reply individually and privately to almost every person who leaves us a review. Today, we no longer ask for reviews on products that meet the following two criteria: 1/ There are enough reviews shown on the site for people who want to buy to form a well-informed opinion about the product 2/ We've read enough reviews within the Loom team to understand how to improve the product for the next generation.
Hold your horses: what proves we don't tamper with reviews by slapping 5 stars everywhere?
Honestly: nothing, we're just giving you our word. Same as for everything else, by the way: where we manufacture, where our wool comes from, our lab test scores, and so on. The only times we might touch what you write are if your message contains spelling mistakes (and even then, quite a few slip past us) or if it's racist, homophobic, and so on (but that's never happened so far).
Asking for a review after a month isn't enough to know whether the clothes really are durable, is it?
You're right, which is why we send you another review request email a year after your purchase – we even ask for a photo to see how your garment has aged. The answers help us improve our clothes and provide information about "how this product will age" on our product pages. To avoid bothering our customers needlessly, we don't ask for these reviews on 100% of the products ordered: as soon as we have enough data to understand the areas for improvement, we stop asking for the one-year reviews.