“Self-reflection and investment” as an antidote to crisis. This is the strategy pursued by Conceria Antiba to tackle current and persistent market difficulties. Thanks to this vision, the company is closing “the year in positive territory”, after “four consecutive years of growth”. The outlook and recent decisions of the Tuscan tannery were explained in this interview by Paolo Balducci, who runs the company together with his brother Graziano and partners Maicol Dei and Simone Toschi. From the creation of the UNICA platform, together with Conceria Pasubio and SK!N, to joining the Pasubio Group.
Antiba’s antidote to the crisis
How are you experiencing the current period of crisis in the fashion supply chain? And what are your short- and medium-term expectations?
Since last year, the Tuscan leather district has been struggling, and the recent closures of tanneries that shaped the history and success of the cluster have been disheartening. It is now clear we are at a turning point. Smaller companies are the most at risk, as they lack the financial resources and manpower to keep up with the constant demands of the brands. Their inability to generate profit deprives them of the opportunity to reinvest in growth and innovation. Today, these are essential to meeting market requirements effectively.
So what will happen?
Work will increasingly be concentrated in the hands of a few structured companies, able to maintain high standards in product, quality and service. These are the elements clients seek — and will continue to seek — regardless of which designer or manager is in place.
Self-reflection and investment
How can companies change course?
Through self-reflection, dialogue and investment. At Antiba, over the years, we have treated crises as opportunities to reinvent ourselves with courage, focusing on the long term rather than the immediate. During the 2009 crisis, we decided to expand our business by entering the leather goods sector. When the Covid pandemic broke out in 2020, we invested in a new plant. This year, we decided to join UNICA. Despite the general market trend, we will close the year in positive territory, thus confirming a fortunate four-year run of continuous growth.
In such a complicated moment, Antiba has decided to become part of the Pasubio Group. What is the strategic value of this move?
It is about joining forces. Together is better, because we can draw on the know-how, technologies and highly skilled workforce of Pasubio to improve and achieve results that would have taken us many more years — and resources — on our own. Antiba’s identity does not change. We will simply have more resources and tools to deliver high-performing, premium-quality articles through ever faster and more efficient service, thanks to a zero-waste production process. And we will not be the only tannery to benefit. We are finalising a series of acquisitions that will create a strong group of companies with well-defined DNAs and a broad offer ranging from leather to textiles.
The UNICA platform
What is the purpose of joining forces with SK!N within the UNICA platform, and how will it develop in practice?
SK!N is the commercial arm of the UNICA platform. At Antiba we have believed in SK!N’s commercial project from the outset. We have worked successfully together for many years. It is a young, dynamic team with a fresh approach to commercial representation — qualities essential for engaging with today’s designers. Their involvement in UNICA will allow the companies that join the platform to benefit from an established and highly skilled commercial network.
What managerial changes is your company experiencing as a result of joining the platform?
We are moving from a family-run business to a company controlled by a private equity fund. The mindset and organisation are evolving towards a more managerial structure. Even in production departments, people are learning new working methods through training and empowerment. Everyone is being asked to keep an eye on productivity, to improve efficiency and reduce waste. We also expect excellent results on the sustainability front, as Pasubio’s collaboration enables us to share expertise and jointly develop innovative new projects. Thanks to a highly skilled and responsive team, we have taken a significant step forward in a short time. I am very proud of what we have achieved so far, and I am eager to see what we can accomplish together in the future.
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