In 1962, you were the first in Italy. Today, you are a global leader in the production of warp-knitted fabrics for swimwear, sportswear, and outerwear. Carvico is a symbol of Made in Italy worldwide. What ingredients have allowed you to evolve while maintaining your identity?

Quality, foresight, research. In sixty years, we have become international leaders in the production of elastic and circular warp-knitted fabrics. Anchored to our identity, we have primarily focused on the quality of our fabrics, investing heavily in Research and Development. This allowed us to create unique and winning products, anticipate market trends, and meet customer demands. Our forward-thinking approach led us to open our first commercial unit in Asia in 2001. By doing so, we positioned ourselves to compete with the Asian giants that would transform the global landscape in the coming years. Our secret? Believing in what we do wholeheartedly.

Carvico’s sustainability is realistic and involves every link in the supply chain, yielding transparent and certifiable results. While environmental protection is a duty for a green company, do you think it’s incorrect to talk about “zero impact”? Why?

We strive to work in a way that minimizes our impact on the environment, studying production processes and methods that respect the entire supply chain, from operators to end consumers. Let’s be honest: we can’t claim zero impact. However, what we can and must commit to doing every day is safeguarding and protecting this world. It’s something we, as companies and as citizens, must do. It’s now a well-established fact. As “responsible companies,” we have planned significant investments in environmental initiatives that will be implemented in the near future.

Carvico participates in various international projects to contribute to the circular economy model of the future. Can you tell us about “Healthy Seas a Journey from Waste to Wear”?

Since 2016, we have supported Healthy Seas – a Journey from Waste to Wear, a non-governmental organization dedicated to recovering discarded fishing nets, especially those irresponsibly abandoned at sea, which pose deadly traps for marine flora and fauna. Fishing nets aren’t the only material; even fluff and tulle are waste materials that can be regenerated through a sophisticated physical-chemical decomposition process. ECONYL®, the regenerated nylon yarn at the core of many of our fabrics, originates from these waste materials. Carvico and Jersey Lomellina are exclusive worldwide suppliers of these materials for the swimwear industry.

Laura Colnaghi Calissoni, President and CEO of Carvico, was included in Forbes’ list of the 100 most influential women in 2021. How much value does your company place on gender equality?

Gender equality is a natural process in our company that has always existed. We didn’t devise methods to ensure equal opportunities; we simply based our principles on the values we believe in. We have a female President, and leadership positions are often held by women. In our companies, gender doesn’t determine one’s career; it’s skills and merit that matter. At Carvico and Jersey Lomellina, all employees enjoy equal rights and career opportunities.

Carvico has allocated 2 million euros for investments in digitalization to move towards a smarter, automated, and interconnected production. Carvico and Jersey Lomellina are heading towards Industry 4.0. Could you give us a sneak peek at the main objectives for 2022?

Machinery, software, and production processes that make the company more competitive and efficient. This doesn’t mean reducing the workforce but complementing technology with people, aiming to reduce costs, enhance safety, and improve industrial processes. This approach is also related to sustainability. On one hand, it’s about environmental responsibility; on the other, it’s about ensuring that workers always have optimal and safe working conditions throughout their tasks. Our objectives for 2022 are to continue growing while emphasizing what we have always believed in: reliability, quality, creativity, development, and investment. But above all, we must do it with enthusiasm and the awareness that working in the textile industry is a privilege. Often, this sector isn’t fully appreciated, even though it’s one of the driving forces of our country.

Describe Carvico’s approach to the future in three adjectives.

Rather than describing our approach to the future, I want to emphasize our primary goal: to continually improve, never think we’ve “arrived,” and, as I mentioned initially, never stop believing in what we do.