Ravazzolo and Bemberg™
by Asahi Kasei: a winning combination
Focus on tradition, innovation and sustainability
On 5th November, an exclusive update meeting was held at Ravazzolo’s historic headquarters, attended by representatives of the best-known international high-end men’s fashion brands and members of the trade press. The proceedings were led by Andrea Ravazzolo, CEO of the host company, while BembergTM by Asahi Kasei was represented by Kaoru Hashimoto, Senior General Manager BembergTM Division, Motohiro Nagao, Production Manager Nobeoka Plant, Junshu Furusawa, CEO Asahi Kasei Fibers Italia, and Ettore Pellegrini, Marketing & Sales Manager Asahi Kasei Fibers Italia. For over half a century, Ravazzolo has been an international benchmark in men’s high-end fashion.
The Veneto-based company, synonymous with elegance and quality craftsmanship, combines the most authentic local tailoring tradition with a constant search for technological innovation and environmental sustainability. The focus is on attention to detail and quality of materials from the earliest stages of production. The fabrics, mostly fine woollens, are carefully selected and subjected to sophisticated stabilisation processes. Thanks to cutting-edge machinery, the steaming and decating stages guarantee the shape, finish and evenness of the material, whilst complying with particularly strict production parameters. In the decating department, in particular, the fabrics are immersed in steam and then set by means of a suction press. This crucial step consolidates the fibres and prepares the fabric for subsequent stages, preserving the perfection of the patterns and motifs.
The famous checked pattern, which has become the hallmark of the Ravazzolo brand, originates from this painstaking process. A long-standing partner of BembergTM by Asahi Kasei since 1970, Ravazzolo also stands out for its environmental commitment: the company is now almost entirely carbon free, producing its own electricity and cutting emissions to a minimum, releasing only water vapour into the atmosphere. This virtuous production model provides an alternative to fast fashion and focuses on the quality and durability of garments and the wellbeing of employees. During the convention, BembergTM by Asahi Kasei presented the progress being made as part of the reconstruction plan initiated after the 2022 fire, which destroyed part of the Japanese factory.
Although the event caused the loss of around 35% of production and a one-month stoppage, staff safety was not compromised thanks to the timely intervention of the emergency teams. Following a redesign that started in April 2024, the company undertook a thorough restructuring of its spinning plants and machinery, which are unique in the world and tailor-made to guarantee worldwide exclusivity in the production of BembergTM fibre. Production in the damaged part of the plant is scheduled to resume in January 2026. In the meantime, Asahi Kasei has initiated a marketing and communication strategy aimed at maintaining a strong relationship with the international textile and fashion industry, confirming the central importance of the brand and its sustainable fibre on the global scene. A virtuous model that looks to the future with great confidence and optimism.