Imatex: Italian Passion and Innovation
From food to motorcycles, any Italian manufacturer will tell you quality products begin with quality ingredients. The same can be true with Made in Italy denim by Imatex.
Since 1923, the Annunzi family has prepared warps for weaving their fabrics with old handlooms. In 1990, the family formally founded Imatex based on the desire to develop innovative technologies and products that appeal across international markets. The mill launched with the first 25 shuttle-less looms.
“From the beginning, the family’s goal was to offer and ensure the highest quality fabrics through multiple quality controls measures,” said Fabrizio Annunzi, Imatex chief executive officer. “We have always chosen the best raw materials in the world.”
To date, Imatex’s customers include Massimo Dutti, Hugo Boss, Topshop, Zegna, Nudie Jeans, Max Mara, Versace and Cucinelli. Imatex has gained a loyal following by offering clients personalized and continuous research, as well as exclusive fabrics.
The mill focuses on denim with an emphasis on fiber quality, construction, finishing and style. “The market for basic denim is mature and stores are saturated with it. Consumers are increasingly aware that the fabrics used in cheap jeans is virtually identical fabrics used in expensive jeans,” Annunzi said. “This makes it necessary for our partner brands to differentiate themselves by quality, technology, design and style, which Imatex enables them to do.”
Imatex’s S/S 18 collection is representative of its philosophy and abilities. TENCEL® is in 60 percent of the line, creating looks that are suitable for bottoms, jackets, shirts and dresses. The collection comprises 50 different fabrics, including flat designs, stripes, check and plain. The mill offers twenty different combination of colors, all of them customizable for a unique look.
“We took cues from the athleisure and outdoor markets and worked with Lenzing to create products that suit the lifestyles of the end user,” Annunzi explained. “We are big fans of TENCEL® fabrics for their ability to preserve the original look of denim and to combine it with an incredible lightness and special hand feel. It also ensures high resistance to both dry and wet and absorbs moisture very well.”
Annunzi’s favorite piece in the collection is the new striped TENCEL® fabric created for denim dresses. “This fabric expresses both our sense of adventure in new designs as well as our passion for indigo. It is a very high quality fabric, especially in terms of hand feel, and allows us to offer our customer a choice of fibers including silk, linen and hemp, and design.”
For Imatex, which also uses Lenzing Modal® and Lenzing Viscose®, sustainable, regenerated fibers such as TENCEL® have been an essential element in meeting its goal of manufacturing environmentally friendly products.
Annunzi added, “This is also something that our consumer base is becoming increasingly aware of and seeks out in its purchases of all kinds.”
Carved in Blue: What was your first job in the textile industry?
Fabrizio: Although I have a law degree, I started working in the Imatex sampling office and sometimes in the warehouse. From there I moved on to the development of foreign markets and now I’m focusing more and more on product development.
Carved in Blue: If you could use three words to describe you what would they be?
Fabrizio: Creative. To quote Henri Poincaré: ‘Creativity is to combine existing elements with new connections; they have to be useful.’ Passionate. When you do a job with passion it means that you are enjoying it. It gives you special energy resulting in many more opportunities for success. Reliable. Reliability is key for all kinds of jobs. It has been critical to my success and the success of Imatex.
Carved in Blue: What inspires you?
Fabrizio: Talking about the fabrics, the brands and the designers is thrilling to me. I think about my customers’ products and collections and that allows me to begin to understand what they may be missing and what their needs might be. Imatex develops many fabrics based on this way of thinking; it is another aspect of our philosophy. Our corporate culture reflects our passion for sharing ideas and know-how to create something unique. I am also inspired by my ongoing search for alternative and high-quality yarns to create new styles and to produce new, highly differentiated fashion denim fabrics.
Carved in Blue: Who has been the biggest influence on your life?
Fabrizio: My father grounded me with traditional values. He is hard working and honest and instilled that in me at an early age. Amongst my colleagues, Sundar Pichai has also been a tremendous inspiration to me. I have been influenced by people in all industries and walks of life who manage to invent something new; the people who work hard every day to achieve success and who never stop dreaming.
Carved in Blue: If you could have any career, what would it be?
Fabrizio: Being at Imatex is my dream. I am carrying forward my family’s strongest tradition and values and keeping them relevant and meaningful. I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to focus on business strategy, market development, product development and sales. These are the things that I truly love. I’m extremely satisfied at Imatex and can’t truly imagine being anywhere else. However, the future likes to throw curveballs, so who knows what they will be doing at any given point down the road.
Carved in Blue: For your great grandchildren reading this years from now: is there any wisdom you’d want to pass on?
Fabrizio: It has been said many times before, but it bears repeating: ‘Choose a job that you love and never work a day in your life.’ I have been blessed in that way. I can only wish that blessing on my grandchildren too.
Carved in Blue: What does Carved in Blue mean to you?
Fabrizio: It represents Lenzing’s commitment to sharing information within and about the denim industry.