Index

Introduction ............................................................................................. 2
Crocheted sweater ................................................................................. 2
Missoni ................................................................................................... 5
Cucinelli .................................................................................................. 8
Conclusion ............................................................................................ 14
Bibliography .......................................................................................... 16

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Introduction
Knitwear is a flexible and long-lasting textile art that has been around for thousands
of years. The technique has developed from humble beginnings as a practical
garment to defend against the cold to a highly sought-after fashion item, with
designers constantly pushing the frontiers of creativity and invention.
In this regard, Italy has a long-standing reputation for producing high-quality
knitwear, renowned for its craftsmanship, attention to detail, and innovative designs.
When it comes to this art, Italian artisans and manufacturers have honed their skills
over generations to create exquisite and luxurious pieces, this combination has
established Italy as a global leader in the production of knitwear, making it
synonymous with excellence and elegance in the fashion industry.
This assignment delves deeper in the production processes in three main contexts,
being mainly the handmade production at home, by grandmas, the semi-
industrialized production exemplified by Missoni, until the biggest production
demonstrated by Cucinelli’s case, comparing inside the luxury market. This sector is
in continuous development and different approaches to textile work coexist in the
market.
Each unfolded manufacturing cycle begins with the selection of relevant and related
raw materials and resources required to put theory into practice. Once each phase
has been appropriately planned, core activities are considered. These can vary
greatly from case to case, depending on the scale of production as well. From
classic hand-knitting to the most advanced computerized machines, the analysis
looks at the equipment and technology used to make knitwear, as well as the
materials and fibers used. Human resources also play a key role, as they are
fundamental in handcrafted products, but even if things get increasingly more
industrialized, human touch is still a source of competitive advantage in fascinating
customers.
Switching to the check phase, the analysis will focus on the environmental aspects,
the related impacts and the footprint, and on safety and quality, which are not actively
and properly disclosed yet by many companies. The information retrieved and the
critical assessment of organizational management of operations, together with the
missing ones, lead to the following conclusions.

Crocheted sweater
The first level of production is embodied by grandma's handmade sweater, which is
the perfect example of manual ability and technique.
Hand sewing is a method of stitching textiles together by hand with a needle and
thread. It is a technique that has been around for thousands of years and is still
popular today, notably for small craft production.

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Hand stitching may involve a wide range of stitching techniques, including running
stitch, backstitch, whipstitch, and blanket stitch. Each stitch has a distinct purpose
and may be applied to a variety of tasks using paper pattern or freehand.
There are hence several approaches and models that may be applied, still the inputs,
the process, and the outputs are common to all handworks.
The materials needed and the procedures to be followed consider the usage of only
needles and crochet hooks and the materials needed to make a woman-small size
crocheted sweater.
First, an overview of all inputs required for production must be made.The choice of
raw materials is crucial. Four balls of yarn are required, and in this case they are
composed of 50% Wool, 25% Viscose, 25% Alpaca; 50gr skein and equal to 175
meters. For the production almost 175gr of yarn are needed. The price of each ball
of wool is €13.25, thus a total cost of €53,00 will be incurred for the sweater.
Then, the tools necessary for the fabric of the sweater are the circular needles (5/6
cm), the crochet hook and the whole needle, which ensure a stitching that follows
and maintains a certain sphericity for the waistline, neckline, and arm circumference.
A meter is needed to check the desired size and scissors are used for cutting the
yarn and other materials.
Production time, instead, cannot be determined objectively since it is affected by
several factors like experience, hours worked per day, the urgency of the request by
the final user, usually represented by a loved one, and the various techniques used
to define the appearance of the sweater by the crafter. Since it is an artisanal work,
it requires more production time than semi-automatic or half-industrial work.
After the raw materials, tools, and all related additional prerequisites have been
defined, the next phase is the actual knitting. Four separate components must be
prepared in order to create the wool sweater, and they are then sewed together.
Practically, two equal rectangles will be needed to make the front and back. Starting
at the bottom, we need 2 port stitches, the external ones, and 72 normal ones. The
first 14 rows will be made of elastic stitch and all the remaining 76 rows of stockinette
ones. The number of stitches in each row must be the same, and they must all be
worked 2/2—two straight and two reverse—up until the last row, which must always
be worked straight.
Two 5 mm needles are used to create the elastic stitches. When tying a first knot,
the yarn should be pulled through the buttonhole with a crochet hook and put it into
the needle with half a round of crocheting.
On the other hand, 16 stretch stitches and the remaining 30 rows of stockinette
stitches are to be used to create the two sleeves. They should be about 46 cm long.
In the case of the sleeves, you start by a circle wrist-size, that must be then enlarged,
when approaching each edge stitch. The whole row has to be worked straight until
the second-to-last stitch, before the size increase. After 5 repeats of 12 rows each,
19 rows of stockinette stitch should be added to the 54 stitches obtained after the
last increase. The four pieces will be then assembled to finish the whole sweater.
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Using a wool needle, the process starts by stitching the two rectangles, from the
shoulders, allowing about 10 cm per side (17 stitches) for the neck. After that, the
two sleeves are stitched in place halfway up the body. The two rectangles' final height
should be around 42 cm, depending on the size of the final wearer, their width 48 cm
and their circumference 96 cm. Their sleeves should be 44 cm long, and their cuffs
16 cm broad. An additional ball of wool is required for each additional size.
Producing a crocheted sweater can be a long and complex process and there is a
high margin for error, which unfortunately can often be corrected only by removing
the threads and starting over from the beginning. There are no definite parameters
for measuring the efficiency or success of a handmade sweater, but some indicators
that are used in the industrial domain can also be applicable.
First, the yield is used to determine how much usable wool was recovered after
processing. An increased yield would indicate increased processing effectiveness.
Instead, waste refers to the quantity of wasted or undesired resources produced
during the process; lower waste would indicate more efficiency and lower material
costs. On the other side, a shorter production schedule suggests the ability to
produce more items in a shorter amount of time.
Quality is an indicator of craftsmanship and the caliber of the finished product. A
higher quality indicates superior craftsmanship and a more valuable final product.
The recipient's satisfaction is measured by looking at its reaction when the gift is
opened.
These KPIs can be useful to a crafter in measuring performance and identifying
opportunities for personal improvement.
This crocheting process is fully sustainable: leftover yarn parts can be reused in
future projects and are always useful. To reduce any environmental impact of a
handmade sweater, special attention is required when choosing raw materials. In
this regard, natural fibers such as wool and cotton are preferable with respect to
synthetic ones manufactured from petroleum-based resources. Natural fibers are
renewable, biodegradable, and less polluting than synthetic. Additionally, adopting
eco-friendly yarns colored with non-toxic dyes and limiting packaging waste can help
to boost the process's sustainability.
Safety is not a major issue in this in-house process as the usage of machinery is
practically close to zero. Nevertheless, a particular attention has to be given to the
use of needles and to the sewing machine that can harm the user, especially if it is
the case of a grandma that has an attention span obviously reduced by age
advancement. This is the reason why thimbles are strongly recommended.
In conclusion, the artisanal sweater is unique and tailored on the wearer’s
preferences and body. This involves both a personal and emotional dimension
between the crafter and the user, generally a member of the family or a friend. The
unique relationship that a handcrafted product forges with the consumer is its
greatest value.

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Missoni
When analyzing knitwear under a macroscopic lens, the intermediate process is
clearly exemplified by the Missoni case. This company is one of the leaders in luxury
knitwear around the world, and despite its strong brand image in the market, it only
counts around 400 employees working as craftsmen and artisans, almost like the
old days.
When building the famous Missoni sweater it is fundamental to begin with the core
raw materials to start the artwork. Being this garment so high end, it must be
necessarily motivated by the richness of the primal matter. Among the natural and
luxury fabrics there are viscose, wool, cotton, but also virgin and mohair wool.
Another type of yarn is cupro, a stronger semi-synthetic fabric than cotton, used to
resemble silk, together with the latter it is used in several pieces of the summer
collection. It must be highlighted that cheaper fabrics can also be found in their
collections like nylon and polyester, which clearly undermine the quality value
proposition of the brand, but that are probably used to foster elasticity and give
lightweight feelings.
It must be noticed, that Missoni opposes all forms of animal cruelty, as it requires its
collaborators to ensure that materials of animal origin were not obtained through
violent and cruel breeding and/or collection practices.
It should be highlighted that they did not explicit any kind of wool or fabric quality
certification of origin, nor any standard met. The only relevant information on
standards compliance is quite outdated, for this reason it is not applicable to the
current analysis. Raw materials are acquired through their suppliers and distributors
network that engages producers in Italy and around the world, but the dyeing
process happens inhouse, being one of Missoni’s key selling propositions.
For every season’s collection, Missoni chooses 36 colors that will develop the
aesthetic beauty of the pattern of the season, evoking deep emotions and moods in
each viewers’ eyes. Nevertheless, the chemical composition of the colors remains
undisclosed, this makes it reasonable to suppose that they probably do not use
biological and plant-based pigments, because otherwise they would have advertised
it loudly. Moreover, it must also be considered all the water used as an input in the
dyeing process.
The vast diversity of the dyed yarn is contained in a big warehouse, afterwards, when
colors and patterns are made, they will be transferred to where the magic happens.
The operating and strategic hub is located in Sumirago, Varese, where all the several
machineries for final manufacture are displaced. To create this artwear, the key
equipment is composed of several looms, like the flatbed knitting machine,
necessary for their famous and unique patterns. In addition to the looms, the dying
machine is key in delivering the core value proposition. All these tools, together with
plants and facilities, must be obviously powered by electricity, that is key to bring to
life the process.
Additionally, packaging is another relevant element that can have environmental
impacts. Concerning apparel and accessories, usually Missoni employs branded
5
paper and cardboard boxes. As an eco-friendly substitute for conventional paper or
plastic bags, Missoni also employs reusable cloth bags and totes.
This apparatus could never work effectively if it was not backed by a skilled and wise
workforce. Personnel can be distinguished into “the mind” and “the hands”. The main
difference, here, lies in the role they play in the company thanks to their skills and
expertise. In this metaphor, the mind is composed by creative and imaginative
designers that are responsible for the artistic and innovative graphics of the pieces.
The hands, instead, embody the figures of the artisans that translate the theory into
practice leading to the physical realization of wearable art.
In practice, the process cycle of Missoni’s starts by choosing the colors out of a “color
card” for each season, which is a selection of hues that will be utilized in the
collection in all the brands. Together with a mood board, the overall look, attitude
and emotional impact of the collection is represented.
Then, a long and winding route of experiments is undertaken to find the right color
combination. This entails experimenting with various color pairings from the color
card to identify the ones that go well together. By visualizing the sort of person who
would wear the outfit or the event it would be worn to, the designer may construct
stories based on these color choices. In practice, nothing is left to chance, as every
piece of the collection conveys a message and portrays a specific story, so that
anyone that wears them can feel a unique experience.
After the planning phase the focus shifts on the silhouette imagining, which describes
the general form and construction of the knitwear. Missoni is famous also for creating
different kinds of silhouettes that can suit anyone, fostering the concept of body
inclusivity.
To make sure that the silhouette complements the chosen colors, this may include
developing prototypes and drawing up ideas.
All of this must be assembled together with the patterns that represent Missoni's
style perfectly. Since its inception, the firm has successfully pierced the market with
the help of its astounding and eye-catching fully colored designs. Thanks to the
invention of a new loom that allowed them to knit making that sort of pattern, they
created the well-known zig zag. Additionally, they invented the "Put Together"
method by making patterns and zigzags at the core of the value proposition. The
designer will next put the collection's many components together, paying close
attention to how the colors, patterns, and shapes blend to form a coherent whole.
Before the finished collection is ready to be presented to the public, this procedure
may require several rounds of edits and alterations.
Moving forward, the concept is brought to life thanks to the know-how of the expert
employees. The overall process is carried on in an artisanal-like method: beneath
the use of the looms for the most standardizable and time-consuming activities;
stitches, buttons, poussoirs and details are manually sewed to the fabric and all the
parts are combined together with the use of the sewing machine, as it could be done
by grandma at home. This is paramount because Missoni’s clientele wants to feel
simultaneously the precious luxury of materials and colors, the design worth of the
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high-end fashion company and the true hand–made, that gives genuine
distinctiveness.
When considering the manufacturing processes, to check that every step is
performed perfectly, some key performance indicators should be set, so that the
effective performance can be measured according to the goals compliance.
However, Missoni did not publicly display his KPIs, but some common ones used in
the fashion industry can be investigated.
It all starts with labor productivity, that explains how much a worker produces as
output. For this KPI, the compliance level is probably not that high because for an
high-end artisanal firm like Missoni the defect rate is way more crucial. Quality, in
this context, should go beyond quantity. Every knitwear product must be flawless, it
is not allowable to have defects, every piece must comply perfectly with the
production plan. To have zero-defect products a high cycle time is needed, so that
efficiency must be just enough to pursue the selling of the intended batches. To keep
this production process sustainable, high time and perfection must be backed up by
a wise capacity utilization and inventory turnover, to avoid any obstruction in the
chain of production and to deliver all the products in time. This is crucial to have a
maximum customer satisfaction rate: they have to acquire and enjoy all of the
Missoni’s benefits and values.
The sequence of these processes alone has no meaning if not properly
communicated and delivered to the targeted audience. The distribution and
marketing functions in this step play a huge role. Missoni has to take into
consideration that to deliver the right brand image, once the product is ready, it must
be shown to the public. In the fashion industry, showcases, runaways, museums and
fashion shows are fundamental, so that the most striking products create the most
buzz. In this regard, Missoni had several museum temporary exhibitions, as for
example the ones in the Fashion and Textile Museum in London, in 2016.
After the communication, the product is delivered to the customer, through their
retailers and dealers network, and in the 40 Missoni’s shops between Italy and all
over the world.
All of these stages ultimately lead to the delivery of fashionable apparel of the highest
caliber to the public. Nevertheless, even if their knitwear is astonishing there is a sort
of ambivalence in how they manage operations’ unwanted outcomes such as waste
and regarding the safety and working conditions of their employees.
Starting from safety concerns, the company obviously complies with official
regulations in order to maintain a safe workplace, but no additional standard or
demonstration of particular keenness to the issue is published.
The maintenance and compliance with the building's robustness are undoubtedly
the first safety precautions that need to be considered. Machinery must thereafter
be actively maintained and monitored after this phase. Employees also need to be
provided with the proper personal protection equipment and instructed on how to
use them safely. Another topic of debate is the dying procedure, which calls for

7
special protection against chemical vapors and fumes as well as the securing of the
space to minimize slipperiness from water spills.
During this process, there are two main kinds of waste produced. The first one is
linked to the dyeing technique. Surely, the chemicals of the colors are disposed
following the law requisites, but there is no mention of ISO or standards applied.
Being the brand strongly positioned in the luxury market and since its image is well
known and recognized, the company probably does not feel the pressure to start an
environmentally sustainable redesign process for their operations yet. Nevertheless,
this does not exclude the possibility that in the future this is going to be reversed, as
environmental awareness is gaining momentum. The company has also been
mentioned in Good On You website for the absence of publications concerning their
sustainable practices. It ranks companies in terms of environmentally and socially
responsible policies, and Missoni is defined as “we avoid”, that is the worst
positioning. The only sustainable practice disclosed is the “Remix Reuse Respect”
strategy, that involves the usage of all the old, already colored, yarns, the second
kind of waste, they have in stock for the following years’ production processes. This
is basically because they could only resell them for lower prices and it is more
convenient to keep and reuse them later on: that colors will come up again sooner
or later.
In conclusion, Missoni’s reality demonstrates that nowadays lots of consumers still
lack in the acknowledgement process, and their main stakeholders are not interested
in a pure sustainable and green image. So, until now, the company has a limited
interest in developing this as a value.

Cucinelli
Brunello Cucinelli, established in the late 1970s, is an esteemed Italian fashion
company specializing in the "absolute luxury" segment. The brand combines
traditional Italian craftsmanship with modern designs, creating high-quality, luxurious
clothing. Emphasizing ethical and sustainable practices, Cucinelli aims to benefit
workers and the surrounding community. The company uses premium materials like
cashmere, silk, and linen, sourced from reputable suppliers and mills, with a focus
on artisanal production techniques. Their commitment to human value and
sustainable development is reflected in their Code of Ethics. Furthermore, customers
appreciate the brand's ethical values, style, and exceptional quality, resulting in high
levels of satisfaction. Cucinelli's aspiration is to serve as guardian of creation while
upholding humanity's moral and economic dignity.
Brunello Cucinelli relies on long-term partnerships with reliable suppliers to ensure
high-quality and ethically produced materials for their products. Currently, the
company works with 255 suppliers for raw materials, with 96.9% of them operating
in Italy, 2.4% based in Europe and 0.7% in Japan, from where the denim is sourced.
The company's iconic raw material, cashmere, is sourced from Cariaggi Lanificio
S.p.A, its main supplier in Italy, with whom they have had a relationship for over 30
years. In March 2022, the Company acquired 43% of the share capital of Lanificio
Cariaggi, which was aimed at reinforcing a significant Made in Italy excellence.
8
The cashmere is dyed on the supplier's premises in the colors defined by Brunello
Cucinelli after careful research and color development. Leather, another important
material for the company, is mainly sourced from Italian tanneries in Tuscany,
Campania, and Veneto, as well as some fine hides from French tanneries and the
Iberian Peninsula.
The company has around 382 artisan workshops in their external production
structure, with over half of them exclusively working for the company. These
workshops employ around 6,200 people with an average of 16 employees each.
Cucinelli values a short production chain, which extends to sourcing raw materials
predominantly from Italian suppliers. They are committed to keeping the production
process within Italy, with about 75% of their artisan workshops located in Umbria,
with 287 artisan workshops.
The production plant in Solomeo, Umbria, is committed to sustainable and ethical
practices. Due to the seismic activity in the region, the plant is equipped with safety
systems to stabilize buildings and machinery, and employees are trained to respond
to emergencies.

Source: “2022 Consolidated Non-Financial Statement”, 2023.

The exceptional quality of its Italian-made products is achieved through a meticulous

process that involves two crucial components. The first component is the careful
selection of raw materials, which is the company's direct responsibility. The second
component is the high level of care and attention paid to the various stages of
garment production.
The materials used mainly fall into two categories: raw materials used to make
garments and accessories, and packaging.
The selection of raw materials used to make the products is directly carried out by
the Style and Creativity Office. These materials primarily include yarns such as
cashmere, mohair, camel, light wool, linen, silk, and cotton, as well as fabrics and
leathers. The company sources cashmere from the most precious qualities of
Mongolian livestock, taking into account the region's particular climatic conditions
and the welfare of the Hircus goats from which the yarn is obtained. Starting in 2021,
the Casa di Moda chose to no longer use animal fur for the creation of its collections.
Additionally, raw materials are subjected to quality controls to test for durability.

9
 Source: “2022 Consolidated Non-Financial Statement”, 2023.

The packaging serves a functional purpose by ensuring the protection and care of
the products during transportation and distribution. Typically, paper/cardboard and
plastic materials are used for packaging, but the company has been exploring
alternative solutions with lower environmental impact, such as fabric containers for
certain products and FSC-certified boxes for gift items. Currently, 59% of the paper
used is FSC certified (75% in 2021). The considerable decrease in the use of FSC-
certified material is a result of the company's efforts to prioritize the use of recycled
materials, which is evident in the significant increase in their volume between 2021
and 2022.
Cucinelli's production process involves the use of various machines, such as cutting,
sewing, knitting, and finishing machines. Cutting machines are used to cut fabric
according to the pattern of the garment, while sewing machines are used to stitch
the fabric parts together to create the final product. Instead, knitting machines are
utilized for producing knitted textiles incorporated in their creations. Finally, finishing
machines perform final touches such as ironing, pressing, and folding.
In the knitting production process, machinery plays a crucial role in enhancing
efficiency and precision since modern machines utilize advanced technology to knit
fabrics, creating intricate patterns and designs with remarkable speed and accuracy.
The timing of machinery implementation depends on factors such as the scale of
operations and the desired level of productivity.
Cucinelli maintains a strong emphasis on manual knitting and skilled craftsmanship,
which play a vital role in perfecting the finishing touches and intricate details of every
garment. At the same time, the company utilizes machinery to enhance productivity,
employing fully automated machines in the initial stages of production to meet
demand and streamline the process.
Employee engagement plays a crucial role in the company's production process,
aligning with the founder's vision of Humanistic Capitalism. This approach values
human dignity, ethical practices, and social responsibility, emphasizing a harmonious
balance between economic prosperity and the well-being of employees, society, and
the environment. It promotes the belief that capitalism can be a positive force by
prioritizing human values, creativity, and ethical conduct.
In 2022, the Group's number of employees increased by 9% to 2,475, with the
majority of the workforce located in Italy (53%), consisting of 63% women and 36%
men.

10
Cucinelli procures its production machines externally and ensures that they possess
the necessary features to meet the brand's specific needs. The machines have Multi-
Gauge Capability, which enables them to produce various types of knitted fabrics
and designs. They may also have advanced computerized control systems that
ensure accuracy and consistency in complex designs. In addition, yarn feeding
systems are equipped to ensure the smooth and even delivery of yarn to the knitting
needles, while sensors and monitoring systems provide real-time quality checks to
minimize defects. Furthermore, the knitting machines may also offer automation
features to enhance efficiency and speed.
The Company ensures rigorous quality controls at every stage of the production
process, from the semi-finished product to the final transformation into the finished
one. Specifically, the main steps include:
1. “Weaving” is the processing phase of the yarns to produce knitted parts that
will form the garment;
2. "Mending" is the sewing phase of the knitted parts and the production of the
complete garment;
3. "Finishing" is the specific work carried out on the details of the garment (for
example, collars, cuffs, and seams);
4. "Fulling" is a crucial step in the production process that involves washing the
garments and checking their softness and consistency, and is exclusively
carried out in-house by Casa di Moda to ensure the final quality of the product.
5. "Pre-pressing/pressing" is an intermediate ironing phase in case of further
processing;
6. "Stitching" is the phase where details belonging to the garment in progress
are added (additional materials, accessories, and additional processing);
7. "Final pressing" is the final ironing of the garment.

Source: “2022 Consolidated Non-Financial Statement”, 2023.

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The Group implements continuous controls throughout the development and
production phases by maintaining daily interaction with the artisan workshops due
to their geographical proximity. All products undergo 100% quality control to ensure
that quality standards are met at every stage of production.
For knitwear garments, semi-finished products are returned to the Solomeo site for
meticulous inspections by specialized personnel. The inspections cover several
aspects such as the size of knit parts and imperfections. After each inspection, the
semi-finished product is returned to the artisan workshops for the next stage of
production. Through timely quality control at each stage, Cucinelli is able to minimize
the number of finished products that do not meet their standards and are unfit for
sale.
Besides quality, the Group prioritizes employee safety by adhering to regulations and
implementing precautions to minimize accidents. In Italy, workplace hazards are
assessed and monitored through the Risk Assessment Document, allowing for the
identification of potential risks and the implementation of preventive measures.
Regular inspections are conducted, and the Group has obtained the BizSafe
certification, reflecting its commitment to maintaining a safe working environment
and reducing occupational risks.
Together with quality and safety, Cucinelli's production processes are guided by
other key performance indicators (KPIs) such as time, efficiency, and waste
reduction. Timeliness plays a crucial role as short lead times enable the company to
swiftly respond to market demands and adapt to changes. Efficiency, on the other
hand, is measured to assess how effectively resources are utilized in the production
process, optimizing production costs and maximizing output. Waste reduction,
instead, is prioritized, and KPIs help identify areas for improvement and cost-saving
opportunities.
Once the production process is complete, the brand focuses on achieving its market
presence through exclusive distribution in both physical and digital channels. The
brand's retail, wholesale, and multi-brand channels are concentrated in high-end
locations consistent with their luxury positioning. They offer a garment repair service
worldwide, emphasizing the value of guardianship and reuse. The physical retail
network consists of directly operated stores (DOSs) and hard shops within
department stores. As of December 31, 2022, Cucinelli had 119 retail boutiques and
42 hard shops within department stores. The wholesale network includes
monobrand points of sale operated by third parties, independent multi-brand points
of sale, and shop-in-shops in department stores. As of December 31, 2022, there
were 30 wholesale monobrand boutiques.
The brand also organizes and participates in events - such as Milan Fashion Week
and Pitti Uomo in Florence - and collaborations - such as Oliver Peoples and
EssilorLuxottica - to generate excitement and engage customers and industry
professionals. These cohesive marketing techniques effectively communicate the
brand's values and create memorable experiences.
Cucinelli's products offer a unique blend of superior craftsmanship, high-quality
materials, and meticulous attention to detail. They are known for their exceptional fit,
12
comfort, and design, embodying Italian heritage. The brand's commitment to ethical
and sustainable practices further enhances the value, appealing to conscious
consumers seeking quality with purpose.

Source: “2022 Consolidated Non-Financial Statement”, 2023.

In fact, the brand prioritizes responsible and respectful management of resources,

aiming to maintain a balance between human activity and nature. Compliance with
national and international environmental regulations is a top priority, with specific
protocols and controls in place to prevent environmental infractions. Cucinelli also
focuses on educating stakeholders about the importance of valuing and protecting
the environment.
In terms of their production model, they have set specific targets for reducing direct
and indirect emissions. Direct environmental impacts include energy consumption,
fuel usage, water withdrawals, and waste generated by the company's operations.
Indirect impacts encompass raw materials procurement, external production
facilities, scrap from artisan workshops, energy consumption by franchises and
customers, logistics and distribution, and product use by wholesale and end
customers.
Based on the available information, there is no specific mention of Cucinelli using
ISO certifications in their operations. This is confirmed by their low ranking into the
Good On You website. Indeed, the company is defined as Not Good Enough, as it
does not show external validation of the promised sustainable practices.
Instead, the brand is committed to minimizing waste and efficient use of available
resources in its operations. Waste is managed through separate collection and by
specialized companies, with measures in place to manage waste from dry cleaning
and office, including paper recycling initiatives. In collaboration with small artisan
workshops, the company implemented the "Direct management of production waste
disposal" project, which proposes an optimal solution for disposing of biodegradable
plastic bags. Damaged or non-reusable bags are returned to the supplier for
processing into a second raw material.
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Analyzing total waste produced in 2022, there was approximately 478.6 tonnes,
representing a 23% reduction from 2021, mainly attributed to changes in waste
management processes. The company has eliminated the use of the potentially
hazardous chemical perchloroethylene by using hydrocarbon washing machines as
a replacement.
In conclusion, the Group’s constant engagement in sustainability and its purpose in
achieving customers’ satisfaction through product efficiency and quality,
demonstrates its high position in the luxury market.

Conclusion
In a nutshell, the analogy between the production processes of Cucinelli and
Missoni's knitwear reveals that Cucinelli's production process is more complex and
entails higher risks for the safety of its employees due to its location in a seismic
region and the use of highly automated machinery. It needs, for this reason, safety
systems to stabilize buildings and machinery, as well as properly trained employees
in case of calamity. Missoni also prioritizes safety in its production processes, despite
having a smaller production capacity and fewer employees. In contrast to Cucinelli,
Missoni has inhouse dyeing processes that can lead to diverse hazards, and major
safety control in the working environment, with the risk of slipping and the toxic
vapors coming from the dyeing tanks. This opens up a need for safety gears like
masks, glasses and rubber boots.
Overall, the comparison highlights the importance of prioritizing safety in the
production processes, regardless of the company’s size or complexity. Effective
plant management and oversight are crucial in this regard. Last but not least,
Nonna's process is the safest, with the primary risks involved being cutting and
stinging, which can be avoided through careful attention and skill of the individual
making the garment. The level of expertise plays a significant role in minimizing the
injury rate.
To maintain quality, the distinct processes obviously have three different approaches,
starting with the complete customization and unique experience that is linked with
homemade production. When hand-making, the emotional value cannot be
disregarded. The end result represents more than just a fashion statement, as it
becomes a meaningful expression of talent and, above all, love. From the beginning
to end, the completion of the garment is completely up for changes and
personalization.
On a bigger level, Missoni is trying to offer a similar experience in its high quality
luxury apparel, by combining fine materials and extreme craftsmanship. Given the
singularity of the color story and patterns, each collection is independent and
represents a moment in time that can be cherished forever.
Cucinelli’s value derives from artisanal philosophy and tradition, but aspires to move
and transmit the beauty and relevance of their clothing to the entire globe. This leads

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to the definition of a precise direction to follow for quality control, in order to meet a
bigger audience while maintaining high standards.

Concerning environmental implications, it is evident that the most sustainable

process is the one performed by the grandma. Practically, there is no waste
production and everything in excess is promptly reused and reintroduced in the next
production cycle. Enlarging the view, Missoni does not really disclose anything
practical regarding its unwanted outcomes, and no green policy or standards are put
into place. While Missoni decided to stay silent and disclose the essential minimum,
Cucinelli plays a completely opposite strategy. The company mainly focuses on
communicating sustainability practices, while in reality it is portraying just internal
standards and there is no externally certified evidence. In this regard, it is important
to be aware that language that is overly complex or ambiguous may not accurately
convey information, but it can still be effective in attracting customers.
Taking everything into account, it can be said that the knitting industry has the
potential to shape a more environmentally conscious and socially responsible world
by embracing sustainable practices, such as using eco-friendly materials, reducing
waste, and promoting fair labor conditions. This commitment would benefit the
environment and resonate with consumers, inspiring other industries to follow suit
and paving the way for a more sustainable and inclusive future. If and when
sustainable practices are embraced by companies, the industry will finally be able to
leave an indelible mark on the whole society, sewing together a world where beauty,
innovation, quality, safety and sustainability are seamlessly entwined.

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