Giuseppe Canclini was born in 1900 in Colico, a village on Como Lake. He was young man with a lively mind from a modest family when he was sent to the seminary to complete his education, as was customary back at that time. Giuseppe soon stood out showing an innate creativity and resourcefulness: he was fond of music, he was able to play the accordion and the piano and was passionate about hunting and skeet shooting. He could also speak fluent English which for the time was a quite exceptional skill! He attended a course as a textile mechanic in Feltrinelli, but his most important experience was at the Omita company in Albate, leading company in northern Italy specialized in textile mechanical engineering.
There he learned to build the first shuttle looms. Aware of his own technical abilities and thanks to his business-oriented spirit, he decided to set up his own business in 1925 at the age of twenty-five, founding Canclini company.
He started in a shed in Caccivio, rented by his father-in-law, where he assembled the looms to weave silk and where he was warping the yarns which he then home-delivered to the weavers in town. Once back in the factory, the greige were checked and sent to the best dyeing mills in Como to complete the process. At that time already about forty looms could be counted. The products were silk fabrics for making underwear for women; the beautiful sets were bought mainly by customers from Tuscany where Florence represented the most important market, with clients such as Macora and Schimtz & Lombard.
As man who lived on the cutting-edge, he soon understood how important the quality of the raw material was. His aim was to be able to control the entire textile chain and as such he trod several different paths both to South America and to southern Italy to find out how to grow mulberry trees and breed silkworms on his own. An ambitious project, that despite those trips did not accomplish, can certainly still be considered precursors of modern and globalized society and management.
The war period despite some difficulties was prolific for Canclini company that was able to convert its production to make parachutes. Parachutes had very peculiar and challenging technical requirements, nowadays managed thanks to the modern man-made fibers and technologies: Canclini company made it possible by weaving the fabric with an equal number of threads and picks giving the fabric compactness to withstand the atmosphere without letting air through. This project contributed to Canclini success on the market even in such a critical period as the 1940s.
After the war, in the decade 1955-1965, Canclini’sons Vittorio and Giancarlo also joined the company. Vittorio took responsibility for the technical-creative unit, while Giancarlo took over the commercial and administrative office that was open in Como.
Silk scarves and historic jacquard dressing gowns, Canclini’s DNA, made Como famous all over the world. With pride and a pinch of nostalgia the satin stripe scarves that were sold very well throughout the Italian market: from various converters in Como, to the already established Florence, up to the emerging Neapolitan tailors. Among the most important brands we can remember Novelli.
The flagship item of those years, however, was the silk fabric for shirting that let the company take the first step towards abroad, exporting to Germany, France, and especially to Denmark. The close collaboration between Vittorio, Giancarlo and the Danish commercial agents was essential to establish a crucial working relationship.
At the beginning of the 1960s the new factory was built and gave birth to the first weaving mill that today is still operational as a warehouse.
The looms were no longer handled by external professional weavers, but the entire process was managed by the mill in Lurate Caccivio thanks to warping and weaving facilities with shuttle looms, jacquard and the first Saurer rapier weaving looms.
The commercial and administrative department was moved from Como to Lurate Caccivio around the Seventies joining the production plant.
Around 1975, the company decided to work cotton – not silk – shirting fabrics. It was a choice dictated by instinct, by the desire to diversify to stand out in a blooming but crowded market, which is typical of Como silk.
The weaving machines, both shuttle and jacquard, were converted into cotton machinery; in this period all the companies bought the same looms, competitiveness was very high and only creativity, entrepreneurial skill and dedication could make a company a leader amongst the competitors.
And the choice to switch to cotton fabrics was a winning one: the company began to take part in various trade fairs such as “Interstof” in Frankfurt, Premiere Vision in Paris or the nearer Moda In in Milan.
The second generational change took place at the beginning of the Nineties, with the arrival of Simone and Mauro in the company.
In these years, Canclini expanded all over the world, acquiring an international sales network: gaining confidence, credibility and acclaim, for many customers it became the point of reference for exclusive shirting fabrics.
Today it counts amongst its admirers designers all over the world, prestigious clothing brands and historical tailors who perpetuate the refined art of men’s tailoring.
Sales abroad represent about three quarters of turnover and there are customers in over one hundred countries. About a fifth of the latter is dedicated to investments. In addition to researching new trends and
experimenting with modern processes and technologies, prime importance is given to the choice of raw materials, the best cottons, and the finest yarn counts in the world.
Value for money recognised and appreciated by the most illustrious operators in the sector is a rewarding achievement: in these years of important changes, in fact, Canclini strengthened historic partnerships
and, at the same time, acquired new customers looking for reliable partners.
Generation after generation, collection after collection, the offer of articles has constantly enlarged and differentiated.
Seasonal collections interpret fashion trends and introduce innovative and sustainable processes. Variants are presented at the main Italian and international trade shows. Always-available articles are periodically
renewed in their colour, pattern and fabrics.
The company is also deeply rooted in the territory, so much so that more than twenty years ago it founded the association “Un sorriso in più” (An extra smile), a non-profit organisation that coordinates over 140 volunteers engaged in activities dedicated to supporting the elderly who are alone and minors in serious hardship who are taken into educational communities.
Canclini’s innate passion for work, dynamism, creativity and continuous innovation have made it possible to realise a dream, that is, to be a reference point for quality, style, service, research and innovation in the
production of Italian shirting fabrics.
Canclini aims to be even more open in the future towards the market and customer demands, acting as guardian of quality and style, all combining research, cutting-edge technology and a century of experience.
