Serafini Group: Expansion and Success in the Fashion Industry

The Serafini Group, a Marche-based leading company in the production of support materials and adhesive tapes for footwear, leather goods, leather clothing and the automotive industry, has an extremely positive approach, which is reflected in an unceasing increase in turnover and in a very effective expansion policy. Thanks to the passion, ambition and optimism that animate the company, the Serafini Group is now made up of eight affiliated companies and production sites in Italy, Spain, Portugal, Mexico and Colombia, and boasts a leading position in the sector, despite the growing complexity of the relationship between business and the market.
Founded several decades ago, the company immediately embraced the potential of new technologies, anticipating market trends and constantly redefining fashion industry standards. What makes Serafini a pioneering company is its constant quest for innovation. Thanks to a team of talented experts and the use of state- of-the-art machinery, the company has developed unprecedented know-how. Their exclusive products are the result of a careful fusion of research, design and advanced technical solutions. The Marche-based company has revolutionized the concept of personalization, offering a wide range of custom-made options, enabling its clients to create unique products that reflect their style and identity. However, the innovation promoted by Serafini does not stop at customization alone: the company constantly invests in research into the latest, lightest and most sustainable materials, and is able to offer eco-friendly solutions without compromising on quality and performance.
Massimiliano Lamponi, Export Manager, told us about the latest developments undertaken by the Group.
Serafini is a well-established name at an international level: what is the reason that pushes the customer to choose you rather than competitors, what is your winning weapon?
“Serafini was founded 45 years ago as a company producing self-adhesive and double-sided tapes for the footwear and leather goods sector. Year after year, in addition to implementing our catalog with other items such as microfibres, extruded materials, foams, etc, we have increased our warehouses of raw materials up to a surface area of 15,000 square meters with significant stocks for each item (at least 4 months for item thickness and color). The search for new cutting-edge products has always led us stand out and allowed us to reach customers who are increasingly loyal to our products. Another point in Serafini’s favor is our attention to the customer which led us to choose to carry out the entire production cycle in-house, from splitting to buffing the various materials so as to be able to ennoble them and give them added value. Thanks to the 7 in-house coating lines can satisfy every request for thermo-adhesive, self-adhesive and laminated materials of all kinds in a very short time. Furthermore, we have a distribution chain that allows us to serve every country in the world, with 5 branches abroad 4of which are production sites. In this way we are able to enter different markets with competitive prices and a quality product.”
You recently presented two innovative product lines, Eden and Elixir: what are they and what feedback did you get from the market?
“After years of research and several tests we have introduced two new products: Eden and Elixir, stain- resistant and scratch-resistant leather substitutes. The
first was created for the furniture sector and is enjoying great success in the nautical sector thanks to its soft feel and its resistance to UV rays, hydrolysis and saltiness.
Elixir, coated on a microfiber base, which finds optimal application on sneakers, safety and healthcare footwear, was instead supplied for the first season only to some luxury brands; these are new projects for men’s and women’s sneakers and a pair of brands for children’s footwear. These eco-friendly materials recall the sensation of leather to the touch, combining it with extraordinary resistance and durability, thus resulting in higher performance compared to the solutions found on the market up until now, which are often subject to rapid deterioration through simple exposure to air and to atmospheric agents, due to hydrolysis. Elixir and Eden, on the other hand, are not coagulated, but coated on a base of solid PU and silicone. Elixir is coated on a microfibre base and finds optimal application on trainers, safety and health footwear; Eden on a textile base very similar to cashmere and is aimed at comfort footwear, also finding application outside the footwear world (automotive, nautical). Among their most important and innovative features is their extremely high mechanical resistance to abrasion, scratches and chemicals, UV rays and high temperatures. They are in fact fireproof materials as they are manufactured without the use of solvents, and extremely easy to wash: a damp cloth is sufficient to remove any stains on the surface. The high durability of these materials is proven by the Martindale tests, whose results prove them to be definitely above the reference standards for their market segment. Environmental impact is also taken into great consideration. Elixir and Eden are in fact highly sustainable synthetics, manufactured through low volatile organic compound production.”
Speaking of sustainability, what is your policy?
“The issue of sustainability has always been close to our hearts, as a matter of fact, our first photovoltaic system was installed 16 years ago and with a production of 294 megawatts per year we are able to be completely self-serving in terms of energy. We have a fleet of cars made up of 75% full electric and 25% hybrid cars with which we make deliveries in the area and go to visit customers. Furthermore, as regards certifications, we were one of the first companies to achieve the GRS (Global Recycled Standard) and GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certifications.”
What news will you launch at the next edition of Lineapelle? Do you have any plans to reveal before the end of the year?
“Serafini is always looking for innovative solutions to meet the demands of the ever-evolving market. At the next edition of Lineapelle we will display a microfiber very similar to split leather, elasticized microfibers and a new suede microfiber, which is very similar to suede due to its feel and writing effect. We hope to have good feedback since these articles boast highly innovative content and are made with high quality materials, elements that have always featured Serafini’s entire production”.

www.serafini.it

The Serafini Group plants in Civitanova Marche: on the left the historic headquarters and on the right the new fully automated raw material warehouse, whose construction has just finished