Since its beginning, the Prato textile district has been inextricably linked to the concept of sustainability. A thriving textile sector has developed in the area, specializing in fiber recycling.
Recycling and reuse traditions are a driving force for the fashion industry today, an industry that is increasingly seeking to be more environmentally and socially sustainable.
Prato was the first district to implement a circular approach to resource management: it has been reusing a huge variety of textile waste since the late 19th century.
Nova Fides was born here, in a true circular economy laboratory, where creativity and advanced technical skills are combined with versatility and technological innovation.
HERE WE ARE
The Nova Fides journey began in the 1960s when Giuliano Calabresi was a factory worker in the Casarsa area of Prato.
In 1964, his inventiveness, determination and entrepreneurship led him to purchase his employer’s company – Follatura di Casarsa – which specialized in fulling, a mechanical process of scouring (cleaning) and milling (thickening) woolen fabrics. Years ago, this was done in the Bisenzio River before it moved indoors to the factory.
At the end of the 1960s, new company headquarters were built in the heart of Montemurlo when it was just beginning to welcome textile companies, fostering a thriving industrial district.
Our company was one of the first to settle in this new industrial hub, significantly contributing to its development and growth.
In the 1970s, the company became Lanificio Fides, managing the sale of the finished fabric by coordinating each production phase, from raw material to final product.
In the 1980s, the woolen mill was renamed Nova Fides. Renowned for its efficient recycling practices and reuse of raw materials, Nova Fides became a leader in the area, reducing chemical, water and energy waste throughout the entire production process.
Creating quality, durable fabrics and investing heavily in R&D, staff skills and cutting-edge machinery have always been priorities for Nova Fides.
In 1996, Giuliano Calabresi sadly and unexpectedly passed away.
Giuliano’s sons, Paolo and Claudio decided to take over the family business, although their careers had been heading in other directions.
Thanks to them, Nova Fides’ growth has never ceased. The family textile tradition continues, adopting an even more cutting-edge and sustainable business model.
Nova Fides boasts extensive knowledge about recycling and specializes in sustainability.
In the 2000s, our recycling efforts continued to be a “hidden revolution”. Purchasing recycled raw materials costs less than purchasing virgin ones. Additionally, the recycled fabric is already dyed, allowing us to skip the costly step of dyeing, which uses huge amounts of energy and water.
A number of years later and we came to champion this sustainable practice.
In 2007, Marks & Spencer teamed up with Nova Fides to put sustainability at the top of the agenda: “Plan A – because there is no plan B” – is launched.
The two companies presented their first knitwear recycling experiment, creating a new finished garment – a coat – made from regenerated wool and cashmere.
Customers donated knits that were at the end of their life to a Marks & Spencer store, where they were collected and transported from England to Prato through the OXFAM network.
In Prato, Nova Fides recycled the knits, obtaining regenerated yarns that were used to weave a new fabric and create a new recycled cashmere coat.
Nova Fides was one of the first companies in the world to invest in regenerated fabrics. However, the market was not ready for PLAN A at that time, which affected the success of the project.
Following 2020 that was dominated by the pandemic, a 2021 full of challenges, and then 2022 that was defined by the War in Ukraine, 2023 began with optimism, determination, plans and missions.
The events of this decade have not affected our company’s performance and goals. The priority has always been to safeguard the wellbeing and employment of the people who work at Nova Fides.
Nova Fides is well equipped to respond to the needs of a market that is in constant evolution thanks to the strong production flexibility that has always distinguished the company, developing and presenting hundreds of new proposals to customers every season.
Ensuring a high level of customization and mastering economic, social and environmental sustainability are the key strengths of Nova Fides. We achieve this by investing in cutting-edge solutions, next generation machinery and skilled staff.
Consciousness Innovation Uniqueness with a dynamic heritage
#novafides a tradition in sustainability
People are the priority for our business. Nova Fides fosters a workplace and space for development where people can meet, discuss and grow together.
Renewable resources, avoiding negative impacts on society and the environment, preserving and meeting the needs of future generations.
Elegance and tradition meet with trends, new materials, colors and textures in search of the perfect balance between heritage, sustainability and innovation.
The collaboration between the style team and technical department brings uniqueness to our designs. Synergy between the commercial team, weaving team and in-house laboratory is the core of the creative process and the winning ingredient in all our projects.
Giuliano Calabresi came up with the company name Nova Fides.
Our founder believes that Latin is the language that illuminates languages, revealing the story of civilization, human evolution and the culture of a people.
From this, Nova Fides was born. Nova draws on innovation and the future, while Fides represents the responsibility, trust and reliability of our company.
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2020
2023• Sustainable projects with Marks & Spencer - Close Loop and Miracle Linen
2007• Solar panels and WOVEN BY THE SUN BY NOVA FIDES trademark
2014• April: Digitization of the textile archive
• May: Listen to your clothes
• November: 2ND CHANCE - Liter of Light
• December: LET'S GROW THE FUTURE - corporate projects
• Friends of TIPO
• May: Company vegetable garden
• June: MEGAFABRIC - headquarter renovation
• Unlock the future
• Defibrillator installed and made available to the community of Montemurlo
• Partnership with Florida State University
2021-2022• WemPark sponsorship - digital communication
2022• New looms - 52 for production and 20 for play
2023• Water fountains
• Recycled waste containers
• July - Employee bonuses
• Training in Google Suite NF and PTX tools
• Corporate ERP training
• Trello, Notion and digital showroom training
• December - Additional company bonus
• December - Christmas Party
• January - Branded Clothing
• January - Waste management training day with ALIA
