Interview with Franco Ravazzi

Franco Ravazzi
Manager-Sales
Tessimenti E Orditi Tinti (T.O.T. SRL)

Brexit will be an opportunity for our economy

Italy-based Tessimenti E Orditi Tinti (T.O.T SRL) specialises in stocking and providing silk, linen, cotton, acetate, wool, micromodal and polyester yarns. The company also provides warping, twisting and winding services. The company's laboratory can in a few hours provide yarns in desired colours from quantities that start from a few grams of small hanks, to large number of cones as requested by clients. Sales manager Franco Ravazzi discusses the latest developments at the company.

What is Tessimenti E Orditi Tinti all about?

We are like a supermarket for yarns. We have silk, cotton, linen, hemp, all kinds of yarn dyed and ready. We make a turnover of €4-5 million and have a staff of eight professionals. We adapt to the market that is influenced by large distribution organisations like Zara and H&M.

What is the impact of Brexit on your business?

Brexit will be an opportunity for our economy.

What is the demand for yarn in Italy and globally?

In Italy, there is no longer the supply chain to produce yarns and we import them from Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and outside CEE countries. The only work we do is winding and we use machines with optical clutches for cleaning yarns from hairs and impurities.

How are the yarns used?

We use the yarns in clothing, scarves and ties and also produce accessories like ribbons and borders and in the home textiles for curtains and seat, sofas, armchairs and wall upholstery.

How sustainable are your manufacturing units? What is the specialization of each of these units?

Our units are eco-friendly. We are attentive to consumption of water and the use of chemicals. We use photovoltaic panels for energy production.

Where do you source the raw materials from?

The raw material comes from CEE and outside CEE countries.

How has the increasing cost of raw fibres, currency fluctuations and US import tariffs affected the yarn market?

Regarding increases and currencies, we adapt to the price and apply the increases trying to mediate on the purchase of the raw material. (HO)

Published on: 31/08/2018

DISCLAIMER: All views and opinions expressed in this column are solely of the interviewee, and they do not reflect in any way the opinion of Fibre2Fashion.com.