ISTANBUL, Turkey — Enzo Angiuoni has proven himself to be a magician in how he continuously reinvents his business in order to survive, while other mills have shriveled up and died.

F&FI caught up with Enzo during Enzo degli Angiuoni’s showing at Evteks as part of the Italian Pavilion.

“We are now in the black in 2014 after breaking even in 2013 with an eight percent sales increase last year,” the 72 year old Naples borne founder says. “For the first four months of 2014, we have a 10 percent gain in sales over 2013 and we now realize that the U.S. market has come back. Aside from the American converters and editeurs, we have also more positive results from European editeurs who are doing an increased business in the USA.” Enzo Angouini

“We have made a total financial change in Enzo degli Angiuoni,” he says, in answer to the rumors that have been swirling around the industry for the past few years.

“We have moved the company to one unique place in Lecco. The showroom used to be 30 minutes away in Lentate and now the showroom has been combined with the factory in Lecco,” he explained. The showroom location is for sale in Lentate.

The 14,000 square meter mill is 100 percent owned by the Angiuoni Family. The mill includes 54 looms including Dornier jacquards and dobbies; Van de Wiele velvet looms.

For the past three years, Davide Goria has been Export Manager and Corrado Proserpio, a new Managing Director was recently hired from Yamaha. (This is not the same fellow who manages Rossini Della Quercia)

The Weaving Director is Pierangelo Bianchi. Maria Angiuoni, Enzo’s wife manages a design staff of ten people. She is much younger than Enzo. He expects her to carry on with the business in the years ahead if and when he gets too old to lead, he says.

“I have a daughter and five nephews; the oldest one is 20—Filippo; Andrea, 18.

Roberto, Enzo’s son also has children: Giocomo, 18; Giulie, 16; Alexandre, the smallest at 11 but he speaks three languages—English, Italian and Chinese.”

Enzo’s point is simple: his heirs are in place and one or more may run the business someday.

Roberto is busy running Texar Stoffe, an acquisition he made several years ago and then consolidated into his family business where all the fabrics are made.