NAPOLI, Italy — Carillo Group faces a clear downturn in business from Russia after a sensational take off five years ago, according to Alessandro Carillo, managing director and third generation family owner of this Napolitano based drapery, bedding and upholstery converter.

Carillo’s current major international markets are Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, France and China – Russia presently ranking fifth, he said. “We are able to deliver customized finished products in 24 hours. Corporate sales are in the 20 million Euro range, he said.    

Early enough, Carillo management recognized the signs of change in European production and gained a foothold in the Chinese market. Some of the products are produced in China, but the major task of the Shanghai office with 19 staff members is sale and distribution of the four brands Via Roma.60, Maé, Scudo and Dormirè. 

Carillo’s international success started five years ago with the presentations at the international fairs; Heimtextil in Frankfurt, Germany; MoOD in Brussels, Belgium and Evteks in Istanbul, Turkey. “Italy is still 85 per cent of our business but international sales are steadily growing,” Carillo pointed out. 

The Carillo business is split between 80 per cent draperies and 20 per cent upholstery and decorative fabrics. In the 16,000 square meter warehouse in Naples, more than 5.000 different designs and colors are available and orders for as little as ½ meter are executed. 

“This enormous flexibility and customer orientation is an important key to our success,” he said. Via Roma 60 is entirely produced in Italy. With the brand Dormirè, Carillo is offering high technology standards and innovative materials to optimize the customers’ sleeping comfort. Antimicrobial technologies using Aegis™ by Devan Chemicals and thermoregulation with Outlast are two examples.”