FRANKFURT — Martinelli Ginetto S.p.A. based in Casnigo, IT, is tucked away in Hall 11.2 at Heimtextil and one would hardly know it is not only one of the largest high end bedding fabric suppliers in the world but also a major yarn supplier to upholstery weavers as well as a supplier of fabrics to high end editeurs who attend Proposte.

The two brothers, owners Luciano and Sergio Martinelli run the company. Luciano handles the yarn sales (spins its own yarn in wool and chenille) while Sergio manages the fabric business.  Luciano Martinelli, Principal of Martinelli Ginetto with Alberto Paccanelli, CEO and Sergio Martinelli, also a Principal

The company bought a finishing house near Milano in 2007 to complete its verticalization and sells yarn to carpet makers in Germany and the UK and to fabric makers like Interfabrics, (Spain) Valdese (USA) and Arturo Pozzi (Italy). “Chenilles is coming back again because the availability of velvet is so limited,” says Alberto Paccanelli, CEO who was hired in 2007 by the brothers to keep everything straight! He has a graduate school degree in Economics; worked for KPMG as a consultant is active with the Board of Italian Textile Association and European Textile Association.

“Our business grew eight percent in 2014 and I’d sign for another year like that in 2015,” Paccanelli laughs. “There’s great opportunity for us in the high end of the market, especially in the Asian market,” he says. “Pakistan and China are not willing to get into the high end of the market.”

The company produces bed linen and drapery in readymade and custom lines, home accessories and upholstery in natural fiber, Egyptian cotton and linen from Normandy; silk from China. Some of Martinelli Ginetto’s clients include Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Sferra and Matouk in the bedding business. Martinelli covers the price range from 5 Euro for a cheap percale to 240 Euro for the top end. However, it is beginning to focus on better goods in silk and cashmere for the long-term growth of the bedding fabric business.

“We see a great future in the digital printing business which compliments our range of products. We own an Ichinose printer currently,” Paccanelli states.

“Our best export markets are in the USA and Canada. We have been selling to the Russians but this business dropped 40 percent in October and is just coming back very slowly. We sell to all of Europe.”

“Martinelli Ginetto has been showing its Dimora Collection of fabrics at Proposte for four years and the business is growing,” Customers include Dedon, Fischbacher, Saum & Viebahn and Sacco Hesslein. Dimora is joined by the I Pronti collection this Proposte, a 2,000 sku fabric effort which can be delivered from stock in three days,” Paccanelli points out. “Our minimum order is 25 meters. You can see it at the Villa Erba.”

The company was started by the boys’ father, Ginetto in 1947.  He passed in 1996. Sales are in the 70 million Euro range but the fabric business is the largest part of the business. Over 70 countries buy the yarns and the fabrics in 305 cm widths,” Paccanelli says.