Small- and medium-sized Italian manufacturers continue to migrate in the hands of bigger companies. This time, Gruppo Florence, an Italian manufacturing hub of international luxury fashion, has acquired its first company specializing in denim processing: Ideal Blue Manifatture, a Marche-based company founded in 1976 in Urbania by Piero Moretti and his wife Teresa Stocchi, entrepreneurs specializing in haute couture.

After a few years, the founders decided to specialize in processing denim garments for the luxury segment, and soon after the company began collaborating with some of the world's leading fashion brands.

The company, which today is run by the second generation of the Moretti family, by Sara, Marco and CEO Silvia Moretti, closed 2021 achieving a turnover of €26 million and expects to close 2022 recording over €30 million with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2017 to 2021 of 10%. 

The production process is entirely carried out in-house, from prototype creation to pattern making. It uses a production chain and laser machines that allow garments to be prepared and customized for final washing, with in-house embroidery. In addition, Ideal Blue also arranges for state-of-the-art digital printers that use natural dyes, an in-house ironing and finishing department.

The company operates according to a fully controlled and transparent supply chain at all stages of processing.

Ideal Blue employs 140 people and pays great attention to researching processing methods that minimize waste, while avoiding compromising the quality of the final product. 

The luxury jeanswear specialist was one of the first companies in the sector to certify its entire production chain according to the requirements of the GOTS, Global Organic Textile Standard, while adhering to the ISO 14001:2015 standard for digital printing and garment packaging, and is one of the few companies at the European level to adopt laser washing technology in manufacturing during the garment making process, optimizing water consumption in the subsequent stages and eliminating the use of chemicals.

Florence Group groups owns 20 companies, including some renown names in national and international haute couture, as well as Ideal Blue. Among them are Taccetti, Maglificio Leonello Spagnol, Maglificio Erika, Calzaturificio Lorenza, Calzaturificio Novarese, Officina Ciemmeci, Facopel, Luciano Barbetta, Confezioni CAM, Confezioni Elledue, Frediani, Parmamoda, Pigolotti, Metaphor, Antica Valserchio, Emmegi, Manifatture Cesari, which have joined the three founding companies of Giuntini, Ciemmeci, and Mely's knitwear.

The holding registers a turnover of more than €500 million and more than 2,200 employees operating in twelve regions of Italy while collaborating with more than 50 international brands.

Francesco Trapani, President of Gruppo Florence said, "With the entry of Ideal Blue, the growth path of Gruppo Florence, which now counts twenty-one excellence of Italian craftsmanship, continues. We are proud to be able to repay, day after day, the trust that entrepreneurs continue to place in us, making the network of witnesses of the undisputed quality of Made in Italy increasingly solid, a priceless heritage of sharing culture and entrepreneurial experience to be protected and handed down to the artisans of tomorrow.”