Two
start-ups that decided to join forces combining vision, skills and ambitions.
Because the story of this start-up is in the name of transversal alliances, a
way to bring Italian-made products beyond mere labels and towards more
substance. For FARE INSIEME -STARTUP, Giampaolo Colletti interviewed Lorenzo
Colucci, co-founder and CMO of Italian Artisan
FARE
INSIEME STARTUP is the spin-off of the FARE INSIEME project dedicated to
presenting some businesses that form part of the Primo Ventures portfolio, a
company that manages funds specialising in the digital sector and new space
economy. Confindustria Emilia has started up a partnership with Primo Ventures
with the objective of providing its associates with new opportunities for
growth thanks to the presentation of the most innovative start-ups on the
market. Here are some of their stories.
by Giampaolo Colletti
@gpcolletti
Head, heart
and hands that make beautiful things, the expression of our Made in Italy. But
networks also form part of the story we are about to tell you, those that
connect the whole world and amplify businesses, relations and opportunities.
When all this is linked to fashion, an Italian miracle occurs. But let's
proceed in an orderly fashion. To tell you about this start-up, we need to take
a step back and, first of all, travel both geographically and with our minds.
This is the story of a family passion and of existences that unite both Italy
and Spain. A story that links multiple generations. A story that is the emblem
of that visceral bond between a grandfather and his beloved grandson. But there
is more. This is a story made of patience, i.e. of time. Because things done
well need the hands of the clock to slow down their hurried pace. There we have
it, here is the story of Italian Artisan, a reality born from the personal
inspiration of David Clementoni, who inherited his family’s entrepreneurial
passion. David’s grandfather was known for the creation of made-to-measure
suits for the businessmen of the time, an art David was able to observe and
absorb by spending time with him. Born and bred in the Marche district, David
assimilated the local dynamics, contributing to the company further taking root
in the territory. Then there is Ad Hoc Atelier, an excellence born in entirely
different circumstances. While they were attending a master course in
Barcelona, Lorenzo e Giovanni were stuck because of the pandemic, hence the idea of doing something special.
Despite their different origins and stories, Italian Artisan and Ad Hoc Atelier
joined forces, establishing a connection with the territory and sharing a global
perspective for the future.
Company
profile. Today, Italian Artisan is a B2B platform that connects fashion brands
with Italian artisans and producers. “Our community represents the beating
heart of Italian Artisan, which boasts 800 producers specialized in various
fashion fields. This network helps brands collaborate easily with various
artisans to make a wide range of products, everything via a single platform
that simplifies the management and monitoring of every production phase,”
explains Lorenzo Colucci, co-founder and CMO of Italian Artisan, which remains
faithful to its beating heart: celebrating and promoting Italian craftsmanship
and quality. “This foundation does not change, but what surrounds us and the
way we operate keeps evolving. We are intensifying our commitment towards
sustainability and ethics, adopting practices that respect the environment and
exploring innovative alternative materials such as cacti which, for example,
are a good sustainable alternative to traditional leather,” stresses Colucci.
But there is more. The team is at work to overcome the internal operative
challenges that are typical of Italian craftsmanship and increase the
visibility of our artisans on the international markets. “This does not only
mean keeping tradition and excellence alive, but also adapting and growing in a
rapidly-evolving global context, guaranteeing that the art of Italian
manufacturing is recognized and appreciated all over the world,” says Colucci.
The strength
of the network. Community is an endless source of knowledge, experience, ideas
and exchanges. “We are at work to further structure this sharing even further
by setting up an academy,” says Colucci. But there is another element that is
essential to understanding the success story of this start-up which has become
great over time - the idea for “made in Italy” to be much more than a label.
“It embodies the story, the experience and the unique traditions of our
producers. These artisans are custodians of an ancient knowledge that has been
forged in the production districts that still stand out due to their
competitiveness and innovation. Each piece created is the fruit of generations
of knowledge and passion for excellence, making every single creation more than
a product, but a piece of Italian history and culture.” The territorial
identity manifests itself not only in the quality and uniqueness of its
products, but also in the ability of these businesses to adapt and connect with
the global markets without losing their essence. Meanwhile, we look to the
future. The goal is to extend the network of artisans and producers, by
welcoming new talents and technologies. Then there is that healthy obsession of
strengthening that connection between tradition and innovation even further.
And the increasingly customised and high-quality services, with an eye to
environmental impact throughout all phases of the production process. After
all, the future is made up of beautiful new pages to be written together.
https://podcast.confindustriaemilia.it/
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