Forasassi Outsources Everything But Weaving To Prato Based Suppliers
November 25, 2014
MONTEMURLO, (Prato) Italy — Prato’s mills are proving that subcontracting everything but the weaving can pay big dividends to owners like Massimiliano and Maurizio Forasassi, brothers and second generation owners of the mill by that name.
By contracting out most everything, the brothers can control their overhead according to the orders. Forasassi employs 16 people but the firm supports 75 families who are independent suppliers. The company shows its collections outside Villa Erba each May but it also produces collections in October and January.
Forasassi makes jacquard linen weaves and chenille in fancy yarns in upholstery fabrics which sell for 12 -30 Euros a meter.
“We start with the yarns and invite our customers to work with us on their collections and colors. We try to think out of the box. We can make everything in Trevra®CS. We produce everything in Prato within ten miles of our factories. By finishing outside, we are very versatile,” Max says.
“We have never felt any downturn in our business which caters to editeurs. We work faster than the mills in the north of Italy and we work 24 hours a day to get the job done for our customers,” Max says.
“This year was a great year for us and we look for a 10 percent increase each year in sales. The business is growing overall and about eight years ago, the export business started growing too. Europe and the USA are its two top markets today.
“Everything we need is local including the yarns, spinning and outside dyeing and finishing where we are part owners of the dye house,” Max explains. “Prato is the capital of finishing, especially wool and synthetics,” he feels.
“The only thing we have in our two factories is weaving with 24 jacquard looms, warehousing and administration,” he points out.
The pair has been in the home fabrics business producing upholstery fabric for 22 years. Prior to that, their father was weaving garment fabrics but that business was retired along with dad about eight years ago. “We started the home fabrics business with dad’s blessing and money,” Max laughs.
