In 1972, Biagio Cazzato found himself in a very difficult moment of his life; he was in Milan without a job and with a wife at home in Salento expecting their first child Rocco whom was due to be born within a few days. A chance meeting with the owner of a tie factory in Milan gave him an idea: why not try his hand at manufacturing this strange and graceful fashion accessory himself seeing as he had matured tailoring skills in his younger years. And so armed with a piece of old tent borrowed from his landlady and with a large dose of inventive he makes several prototypes to show the company. The results were greeted with satisfaction and Biagio returned to Southern Italy with his first order of 50 neckties. It wasn’t difficult finding female workers as the unemployment rate in the South of Italy at that time was very high. He looked exclusively for female workers because their skills in sewing and handling fabrics (every girl in his youth was initiated to work by being sent to the local seamstress to learn the trade) were renowned and admired - therefore guaranteeing high quality workmanship. In the 80’s with the “Made in Italy” boom, the company Cazzato reaches industrial scale and major investments are made to upgrade the production lines which were, until then, mainly hand operated. It’s during this period that the company acquires it’s international vocation, consolidating strong relationships with major clients in Northern Europe, Japan and North America. The company’s production potential increases accordingly bringing the company to produce several million neckties a year. The new millennium begins with several ups and downs leading to the closure of the family’s first historic company. In 2005 the Cazzato family, encouraged by the father’s firm determination who meanwhile had been actively supported by his sons, decides to establish a new company, precisely Cravattificio Alba.

With great personal satisfaction he is able to procure most of the skilled workers whom had formerly worked with the company. Money and energy were invested to progress forward in search of quality excellence. Our adventure therefore continues, full of obstacles and emergencies, but also full of great joy and satisfaction...