ITALIA – Intervista Michele Bocchese, CEO del’omonima azienda.

Prima di incontrare la BOCCHESE 1908 in occasione di Pitti Uomo a Firenze il prossimo Gennaio, ho visitato uno tra i primi setifici del Veneto e tra i pochissimi tuttora attivi dopo oltre 105 anni d’ininterrotta attività. La storia industriale dell’azienda fondata nel 1908 da Giuseppe Bocchese, portata poi avanti dai figli e nipoti ed attualmente gestita dalla terza generazione della famiglia, racconta la passione per la seta.
Michele Bocchese, CEO dell’azienda, dalla sua passione per la seta, elemento chiave e caratterizzante le produzioni della Bocchese 1908, sviluppa progetti innovativi attraverso anche il nuovo brevetto della seta per l’inverno che prende il nome dall’ispirazione evocativa della pronuncia francese, una calda SOIE D’HIVER^TM. La seta è diventata morbida e calda come e più del cashmere, un prodotto unico, che è stato accolto con grande entusiasmo dai brand moda internazionali. Si tratta di un materiale innovativo, pensato, brevettato e sviluppato tra heritage e tecnologia.
La Soie d’HiverTM è nata nel 2011 quasi per caso dall’ufficio stile del Setificio Bocchese. Un tessuto di seta era stato erroneamente trattato in fase di finissaggio con una macchina mai utilizzata in precedenza per la seta. Il risultato era un vello soffice quasi impalpabile anche se ancora molto lontano da quello che sarebbe poi diventato il nuovo tessuto di seta invernale. “Ci attirava l’idea della trasposizione, l’idea di trasferire un concetto dell’estate (la seta) a un mondo di calore e tipicamente invernale. E così abbiamo iniziato a lavorarci sopra, ricercando nuovi filati speciali che potessero essere adatti a questo tipo di finissaggio, mettendo a punto le armature giuste, ma soprattutto abbiamo lavorato su come finire il tessuto in modo da renderlo caldo e così simile al cashmere” racconta Michele Bocchese.

A far-sighted research project based on specific knowledge and hinging on the great strength of tradition. Beginning from its history, Bocchese 1908, the ancient silk factory in Vicenza, has decided to focus on and invest in research and innovation. The firm has been engaged in silk reeling since its establishment. Spinning and twisting were started as early as the 1920s, followed by high-end silk weaving in the 50s. Today’s idea is to reinvent silk, usually perceived and worn as a summer fabric, and make it as warm and soft as cashmere. A new silk for winter with an evocative French-inspired name: a warm SOIE D’HIVER^TM. Technological product research has given rise to a new contemporary style where ultra fine cashmere meets the glow of pure silk. This new material is designed, patented and developed by combining heritage with technology. As stated by the company CEO, Michele Bocchese, a new conscious approach to stun clients by inspiring and stimulating their creative potential is a key element for the current global market. In less than one year the unique, rare and precious SOIE D’HIVER^TM has debuted in the major fashion houses. “When I see clothes by famous designers made with Bocchese silk” says Michele Bocchese “I get very excited and also slightly proud because this means we did a good job in meeting the set targets”. SOIE D’HIVER^TM is the result of a blend of research activities and teamwork by those who saw the potential of an experimental idea and believed in it right to the end.

THE HAND SILK CASHMERE PATENT

Soie d’Hiver^tm was created in 2011 by the style department of the Bocchese silk factory. Its creation was almost accidental, as is often the case for the most innovative ideas. A silk fabric had been treated by mistake in the finishing phase with a machine never used for silk. The result was a soft, almost impalpable fleece, though still very different from what was going to become the new winter silk fabric.
“We were attracted by the idea of transposition, transferring a summer concept (silk) to a new world of winter warmth. So we started working on it. We searched for new special threads that may suit this type of finishing, fine tuning the right treatment. We particularly worked on the finishing of the fabric to make it snug and very similar to cashmere. At the time we were about to take part in the Ideabiella exhibition in September 2011 and so we decided to patent Soie d’Hiver^TM (PD2011A000287)”, Michele Bocchese tells us.

Why patent it?

Michele Bocchese: “Because it is essential for our companies to protect their research, studies and know-how. This is what I also say to my colleagues at the meetings I attend as chairman of Sistema Moda Veneto. Having suggested it to others, I tried to apply this principle in practice. We must protect ourselves to foster growth in those areas that truly represent the cutting edge of innovation”.

Do you think the patent will give you complete protection?

Michele Bocchese: “No, I don’t think so. I actually know that there is a company that recently presented products similar to ours, or let’s say “inspired” by ours; but, apart from that, I must say that in some ways I am also pleased that in just three years since we re-launched the historical family business, we have become trend setters, with the others playing catch-up”.

Who uses these fabrics?

Michele Bocchese: “The first fashion house to believe in this innovative product was one of the most interesting brands in the men’s wear scene: KITON, the historical Neapolitan brand. They were the first to recognise the product’s potential, using Soie d’Hiver^TM already for the last winter collection, presenting a series of truly special coats and jackets at Pitti Uomo last January.
“La Soie d’Hiver^TM struck me immediately for its light and softness. Most of all I liked it because it is something completely new”, stated Mr.De Matteis, Kiton’s owner.

And after Soie d’Hiver^TM, what do you have in store for the coming summer?

Michele Bocchese: “Continuing along this principle, we are going to present a strong and innovative concept for every season. Last summer we reviewed the duplicate silk, a classic Bocchese fabric. In that case we modified the looms to obtain effects that could only be achieved by using the shorter looms of the past (70 cm).
We want to amaze and inspire our clients every time. The fabrics we make are not for everyone. Each product of ours has a story behind it, made of archives, dusty books about entire generations of products and especially an experienced team capable of applying creative freedom to an exclusive handcraft world”.

Bocchese

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Fabiola Cinque

Napoletana fino alla milionesima generazione (dal 1.400), nobile d’animo ma non più per albero genealogico, viaggiatrice e curiosa delle bellezze e delle stranezze del mondo riporto tutte le mie impressioni attraverso tutti i sensi che abbiamo e che vogliamo usare. Di estrazione e definizione “fondista”. Azzurra di nuoto per tutte le distanze più lunghe e massacranti che vi possono venire in mente. La fatica è il mio karma. Mai nulla regalato, tutto conquistato. La comunicazione e la pubblicità sono la mia anima, la moda la mia vita presente e futura. Vivo in un paese bellissimo dal quale desidero sempre di allontanarmi, per tornare e riassaporare i profumi ed i sapori. La mentalità e l’amore sono anglosassoni, ma d’altronde si sa, i Borboni sono stati dominati dai francesi come gli inglesi e gli spagnoli, quindi le mie origini ed il mio essere è globale, sono bastarda dentro.

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