For decades we have been used to moving around the world, reaching even the most remote corners of the planet to forge professional and trusting relationships with different players. However, this year we have decided not to go too far and to land in Tuscany to collaborate with a reality that, at least at first glance, seems to have no point in common with Kapriol. We are talking about the "Le Rogaie" farm which, in the splendid setting of the Maremma, near Grosseto, works in close contact with the earth and nature. The main activity of "Le Rogaie" is the breeding of dairy cows, but it also deals with crops, above all that of olive trees. Tasks narrated and explained on social channels, with videos and posts where love for the land exudes but also the commitment that such a job entails, making it rediscover or get to know for the first time. And it is precisely in the activities that the farm carries out every day that we will insert ourselves, making Kapriol-branded clothing, tools and PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) available for all those who undertake to carry it forward with good will, commitment and dedication. But what do a world linked to the environment like that of "Le Rogaie" has in common with the building context in which Kapriol operates? Many and small aspects, starting from the relationship with the roots, shared and told daily through actions and choices, emphasized even more by being both family-run businesses, linked to their history. With respect to the products offered, both we and "Le Rogaie" put quality first, not only in what we produce but also in the authentic relationships we form, whether they are with customers or with nature and animals. However, having solid roots does not make us give up dreaming of the future and making it more and more present every moment that passes, putting into play passion and a great desire to innovate and progress to reach new goals. In this, the Kapriol family and that of "Le Rogaie" are very similar. In the midst of this horizon, Kapriol and Le Rogaie see the word 'green' stand out. Doing business while respecting the environment will become an indispensable practice to ensure the survival of the planet. "Le Rogaie" fully expresses the intention of safeguarding the environment, moving in full respect of the context that surrounds it. Like Kapriol, we have also embarked on this journey by joining the Treedom project, but the collaboration with the farm represents a further step in continuing on this path and creating a better future. Let us not forget that man is an integrated part of this change, both positively and negatively: it is he who interacts directly with the environment, whether he has regard for it or not. By deciding to accompany "Le Rogaie" in the daily toil, dressing and equipping the workers, we choose to embrace a larger and more universal ethical cause, supporting a reality that takes care of the land, plants and animals and does not exploit them intensively to produce raw materials. Sustainability, as well as through the production process, can also pass through other ways, such as human and collaborative relationships. Now, thanks to the new partnership with Le Rogaie, Kapriol orange shades will appear among the Maremma earth colours.
Designing a Kapriol garment, a journey that starts with fabrics
13 December 2022
Going into a shop and buying a garment is a process that has speeded up exponentially over time, thanks to modernity which has made everything faster and immediately at hand. Sometimes all it takes is a click to get the desired product in a flash, and transport logistics has become so efficient as to make it possible for the order to arrive in just a few days. All this speed leads you to pay little attention to certain details when selecting clothes: you too will have bought a garment without reading the label relating to the composition of the fabric, or without asking yourself if its features were suitable to fully satisfy the purpose for which you are choosing it. Or without stopping to reflect on what his story might be, for what reasons he came to you in that specific form. And this regardless of whether the purchase is made online or not; even going to a store, the modus operandi does not change, and looking at the label has become a rare action.
If on the customer's side immediacy is king, on our part attention is at the highest levels to be able to supply a Kapriol clothing item suitable for satisfying the specific needs of the consumer. And to do this, it is not enough to design a model and think about how to make it functional and aesthetically pleasing. To obtain all these performances, there must be a long and meticulous research approach that involves elements without which the garment would not even exist: the fabrics. Exactly, precisely those materials that remain largely unknown during the purchase phase, and it is possible that they will continue to be so for the entire life of the garment, even after wearing it over and over again.
With respect to fabrics, what are the research criteria that we adopt? First of all, we focus on the durability of the garments: dealing mainly with workwear, it immediately became an essential requirement. Workwear is subjected to very different stresses than clothing used in everyday life, coming into contact with dust, substances and atmospheric agents of all types and intensities. In addition to the durability of the garments, we also and above all focus on the safety of the wearer. Our workwear is all certified as category I PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), bearing the CE label. This means that they have passed the tests of resistance to abrasion, tearing and traction from a mechanical point of view, while from a chemical point of view they have a neutral PH and they are free of amines. This is where another feature that we look for in fabrics comes into play, namely harmlessness: none of our materials will contain dyes harmful to your health.
And how can a focus on comfort be missing? Both in terms of movements and breathability, our goal is to make you perceive Kapriol clothing as a second skin, even after wearing them all day during different activities. The ways in which the threads of the fabrics are crossed with each other also influence solidity and ease: based on how they are carried out, they can generate more stable and compact or softer and more comfortable structures. In terms of the types of yarns used, our products are mainly composed of a polyester/cotton blend, although there are also cotton/elastane models and, for technical garments, the use of synthetic fabrics capable of drying quickly and managing optimal sweating.
Last but not least, the aesthetics: certainly safety, comfort, resistance come first, but do you want to put an anonymous piece of clothing with no personality compared to one that manages to be trendy too? Gone are the times when beauty and functionality traveled on parallel tracks, and therefore as a company with an eye to the future we have acted accordingly, looking for fabrics that know how to combine both aspects. Speaking of avant-garde projections, the search for recycled fabrics is in Kapriol's sights. A will that we intend to put into practice over the next year, in the wake of the sustainable approach that is slowly starting to occupy an increasingly defined space within our corporate philosophy.
In short, as you will have understood, looking for the right fabrics is it's not simple at all and with innumerable aspects to consider. Yes, it represents the starting point for creating a garment, but the exploration will have to be carried out keeping in mind where you want to go and what you want to get from a certain item of clothing. Behind every Kapriol garment there is a precise story and a research operation carried out with care, concentration and an overview. Only in this way we can create light, high-performance, resistant and aesthetically valid garments.
