On 3 May, TFL inaugurated with a big party the opening of its Global Fashion Centre at its headquarters in Castelfranco, in the province of Pisa. Among the 180 guests present, the most important Italian tanners and managers of the major tanning groups in the world stood out. The German multinational corporation decided to relaunch the headquarters in Tuscany, renewing it aesthetically and implementing the technical laboratory in order to "make it become an international reference centre for leather goods in the production of trendy accessories and footwear". A choice that clearly rewards Italy and the Importance of its tanning district dedicated to fashion research.
The new TFL Global Fashion Centre will be dedicated to the study of innovative leather fashion items and their practical realization in the application laboratory, as well as to the permanent exhibition of leathers from the latest fashion collections. "I hope that this centre will also take on the role of an industry platform for the exchange of ideas between technicians and operators and in general to promote innovation in leather processing" declared Peter Amann, CEO of TFL Group.
On the occasion of the inauguration, TFL organized its first Global Leather Forum, a debate aimed at deepening the potential of online business for the sector, entitled "E-volution. E-commerce changes skin" which saw the participation of experts coordinated by the fashion consultant of TFL Emanuele Zamponi. "Today we want to understand how digitalization will change our industry", announced Peter Amann at the start of the project. In the following speech, the UNIC President Gianni Russo congratulated the hosts for their constant commitment on the research front: "We tanners are absolutely in need of traveling companions", said the Neapolitan tanner.
It was then the turn of Marta Casadei, journalist of II Sole 24 Ore, who outlined the framework of the tanning sector, underlining the need - for a sector that bases its 75% revenues on exports - to start a process of digitization, creating a digital platform that allows even future fashion professionals to find what they are looking for online.
The technological innovation presented by the colour expert Gustavo Defeo of Ars Tinctoria tries to resolve the doubts of those who think it is difficult to sell leathers online: a patented software that reproduces three-dimensional material, allowing a very realistic virtual experience. Thanks to the new system, leather thickness, finishing and colour are recreated with great fidelity through CAD models and Pantone codes.
"Virtual leather collections can be created without sampling or shipping costs", explained Defeo. Then Mario Soave of the digital platform Launchmetrics, well known among the big fashion names, talked about how to arrange a digital warehouse, while Lars Feldscher of the digital agency Astound explained how his team helps companies to reach their sales targets online.
Finally, Giuseppe Grandinetti, Vibram's Global Digital Head Marketing, talked about how the leading Italian company in rubber soles uses the most advanced digital technologies to gather customer feedback and set up its commercial strategies.
After the debate and dinner, a fashion show with the presentation of footwear and bags made on the basis of TFL Colour Trends for the Fall/Winter 2019-20 season ended the party.
Magazine: Arsutoria Tannery n.04 July 2018
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