Unsung Hero: Candiani’s Roberto Grimi Talks Looms, Life and Legacy
Too often, the heroes in denim aren’t the ones on the front lines getting all the face time. Sometimes, it’s those working on the ground that are truly doing denim’s duty and fueling the process that creates the fabric we all know and love.
In this case, our unsung hero is Roberto Grimi, selvedge specialist and former head of weaving department at Candiani Denim, where he’s been working for the last 60 years.
Carved in Blue caught up with Roberto to learn more about not only the legacy he has built—and that he plans to leave behind—but about how a life of indigo has shaped both him and the business he works for.
Carved in Blue: How long have you been doing this job? What keeps you there?
Roberto: I started at the company in 1960 so I’ve worked with all four generations of the Candiani family. They have always made me feel as if I am part of the family and that’s what has kept me here all of these years. I’ve never felt like I’m coming to “work” because working at Candiani has always been like working at home.
Carved in Blue: What does the denim industry mean to you?
Roberto: The denim industry means evolution and innovation, a machine that is always moving forward and a race to come up with the next best thing. But for me personally, the denim industry means stability, the ability to create a perfectly woven fabric and share my passion for denim through the work that I do.
Carved in Blue: How important is your role to the greater business?
Roberto: [It’s] essential to the future of heritage denim. The selvedge looms that Candiani uses are from the 1950’s and are no longer made. I know these machines better than anyone because they have been my life for the last 60 years. My job is to share my knowledge with the newer generations who will be responsible to keep these machines working. It brings me happiness to know that my legacy (and looms) will live on after I’ve left Candiani.
Carved in Blue: What do you love most about the job you’re doing?
Roberto: Working with my hands and problem solving. But more than anything, I love passing my knowledge onto my colleagues. It gives me joy to teach others, knowing that even after I am gone, I have helped in some way to keep denim heritage alive.
Carved in Blue: What do you love most about denim?
Roberto: The perfect selvedge (cimosa perfetta). When I see a flawless selvedge edge being woven on my looms, I know I’ve done something right.
Carved in Blue: What’s the best perk about working in your role?
Roberto: I get to do what I love everyday–that’s why I won’t retire! You can’t take me away from these amazing looms. I am also very lucky that I get work alongside my children, I have three children who work at Candiani. My son Luca is now the head of the weaving department and we work together every day.
Carved in Blue: What’s one idea you have for the denim industry that you don’t think enough people are talking about?
Roberto: Sustainability in denim can never be discussed enough. But I also feel there should be more focus on education, innovation and transparency. The consumer needs to know how their jeans are being made.
Carved in Blue: What does Carved in Blue mean to you?
Roberto: It makes me think of our ability to “sculpt” indigo. With indigo, we can dye the yarns many beautiful, vibrant shades of blue but we can also take away that color and change the way the indigo looks on the fabric by washing it, and that’s what makes denim so unique.