ABOUT US

The company story began in 1895 with the pioneer spirit of the young Riccardo Mantero who, from Novi Ligure, arrived in the flourishing district of Como. In 1902, the young man set up his business and opened a small silk warehouse. "Ditta Riccardo Mantero" was established, a unique reality in the silk industry of this area. Riccardo was a visionary entrepreneur with a strong commercial instinct which led him to take on expansion and development risks.

Riccardo Mantero invited his brother Gianni, who was 20 years younger, to Como. After the First World War, Gianni graduated in Engineering at the Milano Politenico University in 1922 with the architect Giovanni Muzio. His graduation thesis was the project for the Via Volta 74 building, set in the medieval walls of the town, which was to become the family home and company headquarter. In 1926, the new company name became "Fabbrica Seterie Riccardo Mantero Snc." In 1927, two of Riccardo's three sons, Carlo and Beppe, joined the company after they had completed their studies in London. Beppe had already worked in London and Lyon, which was the European silk capital at the time.

In the 1940s, the industrialisation process began. The Manteros bought the Menaggio weaving company, integrating part of the value chain to optimise the cost structure and marketing times. The idea was to become a textile producer, industrialists and traders. Beppe Mantero, initially as sales manager, focused on international exports: the very high quality of the fabrics, colours and printing were his company’s flagship. Beppe, father of eight son, with his charismatic soul, took over the “Fabbrica Seterie Riccardo Mantero” in the 1950s. He developed it, focusing on the emerging Florentine prêt-à-porter industry. He initiated the process of industrial verticalization, starting all the phases necessary to produce high fashion fabric.

The Grandate plant, opened in 1960, was a flagship of textile engineering which Beppe completed with the list of industrial assets the company lacked. Originally dedicated exclusively to weaving, it will integrate the dyeing and printing works starting from 1964. This was the time when Mantero controlled the entire production process and started responding to the growing demand for high-quality fabrics. In 1972, Mantero debuted in the accessory market and produced neckwear fabrics which was a rapidly expanding global market. New York, Paris, Hong Kong and Hangzhou offices opened during that period. This strengthened their relationships with foreign customers and partners, creating a service for an increasingly global market. Beppe Mantero who had become “Cavaliere del lavoro” in 1978, died in 1982. For a long time, his sons Riccardo, Federico, Cristian, Otto, Michele and Moritz had been working for the company, while Aimone and Stefania pursued other interests. It was the first-born Riccardo who took his father's place focusing on internationalization.

The 1990s corporate restructuring was necessary to cope with an increasingly clear-cut global scenario. The textile sector began to irreversibly change. In 2001, Moritz Mantero became the majority shareholder and took over the company management. At that time Mantero supplied the world's most important fashion and luxury brands. In 2002, the historical archive of the London-based Holliday & Brown was acquired. A century old collection of books, fabrics, test papers that will create the homonymous men's accessories collection.

Since 2011, brothers Franco and Lucia Mantero have been leading the company, under the wise guidance of their father, Moritz. They continue their predecessors work following the family heritage and desire to keep its Made in Italy spirit. Despite the historical moment when many sectors leading companies relocated, Franco and Lucia stayed and kept their production in the Como area. They consider sustainability to be essential for a modern textile industry. These two pivotal principles were the basis of key investments that led Mantero Seta towards a technological and digital development, without losing its skilled craftsmen values. With the takeover of the fourth generation, some automation processes have been intensified. The role of the historical silk-screen printing technique remained intact due to its historical heritage. However, this became the field for unprecedented experimentation, which opened new paths. While following traditions, Franco Mantero focused mostly on inkjet printing, a new industrial production technique which was essential to meet the needs of a fast-changing market. The latest generation machinery, preparation of fabrics, dye mixes and implementing printing files, have brought the Mantero digital printing an optimal colour rendering, with high quality and exceptional production flexibility.

In 2015, the collection that embodies the company's DNA makes its debut: the Mantero 1902 brand was created. The new Grandate company headquarter was opened. It resulted from the renovation of a large part of the factory. A modern and welcoming area of 2.500 square metres, with more than 400 employees and where production areas, warehouses, offices, and the Mantero archive coexists. In 2019, the Ken Scott brand was acquired. The values and savoir faire of the silk district remain rooted in the company culture, but a global approach develops a worldwide orientation through the continuous inclusion of young talent from an international background.

Mantero CEO, Franco Mantero ended his fourth term in 2021, calling for the company to renew its organisational structure under the new requirements imposed by market changes. The shareholders' meeting appointed Simone Mercuri and Simone Taroni as the new company's joint CEOs who were already closely working with Franco Mantero. Entrusting the company to two internal managers, who are personally and deeply attached to the company and the Mantero family, will provide the company with a new decision-making approach without compromising its historical modus operandi. Taroni has been working for Mantero for more than 20 years and will manage market development with his strong commercial skills, product expertise and sector strategic vision. Mercuri has been working for Mantero for 14 years and will manage corporate representation and operations with his honed financial, managerial and legal skills.