Brunello Cucinelli Spa is one of the most important cashmere manufacturers in the world. Their headquarters are based in Solomeo, Italy – a lovely small medieval town in the province of Perugia. As the luxury Italian fashion company began growing, Mr. Cucinelli purchased the ruins of a 14th-century castle to refurbish – and in 1985 they made the town the headquarters.

As the company continued to grow they invested more and more into the community of Solomeo and the workers – paying 20% more than the average wage, ending the work day at 5:30 and discouraging working after that time. Each working day, everything closed for a 90 minute, heavily-subsidized lunch. “People need their rest,” Cucinelli always said. “If I make you overwork, I have stolen your soul.”