Colouring fashion

With the third generation at the helm and the fourth learning the business from the basics, Tintoria Emiliana has evolved from a simple washing and dyeing company to a high-tech business with many processes avantgarde to propose.

An important turning point came in the 1980s. “My father met the fashion designer Massimo Osti and we began developing new methods of dyeing on exclusive design garments,” explains Stefano Lodi, who leads the firm together with his three siblings Paolo, Roberto and Liliana. “With this kind of growth, we also began to pay close attention to the chemicals that we use. We invested in our own laboratory and gained extensive knowledge of the chemicals and the processes.”

The laboratory is fully operational both in the field of research and in solving the problems of the company’s partners as well. In respect of fabric and yarn producers, the company is today recognized as an important reference in this sector.

Tintoria Emiliana dyes up to two million garments every year, particularly for companies in Italy and Germany as well as in the United States. It also manages the complete logistics on behalf of its customers, from storage to quality control of fabrics and accessories, on the Emiliana Service platform, which is part of the group.

“We are a partner for our clients’ projects,” Mr. Lodi underlines; “We have extensive knowledge and experience, and we help our clients to develop their own businesses. Many of them have worked with us for many years and we grow together every season combining professional background and innovation to achieve new goals.”

The company is currently developing many projects, the most recent is RFID in cooperation with the software house of the group, Emil Software; the final aim is the use of a microchip incorporated into the garment to enable customers to track it up to the final point of sale.

In the dyeing industry, concern about environmental impact is growing. Tintoria Emiliana was one of the first dyeing plants to join the Amsterdam-based ZDHC organization; membership demands evidence of strict environmental controls and practices.

In this direction, another important project concerns the recycling of waste water to reduce consumption and consequently the environmental impact. “Our ultimate aim is simply to give our best for our customers,” Mr. Lodi sums up. “We work seriously, we have learned a lot from our parents and now we are passing on to future generations the culture of work, our knowledge and philosophy, to guarantee our customers maximum continuity in the collaboration.”