Reinventing ourselves, being sustainable, aiming for inclusion, not forgetting our roots: the award granted by Intesa Sanpaolo’s program has been an opportunity to reflect on our achievements. And to look to the future
What are the characteristics of a successful business? At Intesa Sanpaolo they try to answer this question through a dedicated program, focusing on the promotion of those SMEs that stand as an example of entrepreneurial excellence and Made in Italy. The selected companies stand out for having taken on projects and achieved significant results in such fields as innovation, sustainability and social impact. Furthermore, the selection criteria include the ability to adapt to new market trends, betting on digital transition, sustainable growth and inclusion.
Of the 4,000 SMEs that this year alone put themselves forward for the program, now in its fifth edition, 150 were selected, ten of which were foreign. The result was a roadshow that went across Italy; when it stopped at the Arts and Sciences Center of the philanthropic foundation Fondazione Golinelli in Bologna, we were there as well. Maglificio Pini was indeed awarded for the fashion and clothing sector in the Emilia-Romagna and Marche area.
Preserve history, reinvent ourselves and do research
Our history, rooted in our local area and open to the challenges of innovation, began more than forty years ago. “As my dad Pippo always says, in 1977 it all began: he founded the company, he got married, he built his house, his first daughter was born. The bond with the local area was important. Even though in the 80s the company had to move from Santa Sofia, where the first headquarters were, to Forlì, this bond still remains”, recalls Lucia Pini. The Winning Enterprises such as Maglificio Pini are an example of how SMEs can create enormous economic and social value, contributing to the growth of local communities and to the well-being of the people living there.
“We have been asked of our archive and how it turns out to be the company’s historical heritage. Maglificio Pini’s archive has more than 4,000 pieces including garments and stitch trials. It has been recently rearranged and reorganized also in terms of space in order to be more accessible. The objective is to continue to be a source of inspiration and a promoter of research for Italian and international stylists”, continues Lucia Pini, highlighting the role of remembrance and tradition in creative working.
Together, toward a sustainable future
Without forgetting its origins, Maglificio Pini has managed to reinvent itself, as demonstrated by continuous investments in advanced technologies, starting with the purchase of the first Shima flat knitting machine in 1983. “Among the several selection criteria at Imprese Vincenti, which allowed us to be chosen and awarded, inclusion and sustainability were taken into account as well. Not everyone knows what the waste material recovery in a knitwear company consists of, what specific materials can be reused and how… For this reason, I talked about our collaboration with Reverso and explained that production waste and cone bottoms are reused to make insulating materials for cars”, explains Lucia Pini, digging out the company’s commitment to production that is as conscious and circular as possible.
What makes Maglificio Pini a truly successful business, however, is encapsulated in its soul: “My family, my sister and brother who work with me and our employees. It is the passion and the enthusiasm that each member of our team puts into facing every day the challenges that this job entails and the commitment to carrying on such an important legacy that our father left us”, concludes Lucia Pini, highlighting how the company’s success is the result of a shared commitment.
To the future, and beyond
Alongside Maglificio Pini, Feel Blue from Macerata was awarded for the fashion and clothing sector as well, along with companies in other sectors such as the mechanical, the industrial and the construction ones, as proof of a fertile and vibrant area.
What’s next? Maglificio Pini is ready to sail for new routes to grow further, strengthen its presence on the international market, and keep on innovating while respecting the principles of sustainability and inclusion. A concrete example of how Made in Italy can evolve without losing sight of the values that have made it famous around the world.