Carvico

What Carvico does

Carvico is a privately held Italian B2B textile manufacturer, founded in 1962 and headquartered in Carvico (Bergamo), that designs, produces, and sells elastic warp-knitted ("indemagliabili") fabrics to fashion brands, swimwear manufacturers, sportswear companies, and other apparel producers. The company is the first Italian producer of warp-knitted elastic fabrics and is positioned as a global leader in the category, with operations in Italy, a wholly-owned production subsidiary in Kombolcha, Ethiopia (opened 2017, ~400 local operators), and operations in Vietnam, plus a commercial unit in Asia established in 2001. Revenue is generated by selling fabric collections to enterprise customers through direct B2B sales, an online commercial-inquiry form, and trade fair participation (Pitti Uomo, Performance Days, Mare di Moda); pricing is negotiated, not publicly disclosed, and the company supports customers with an annual Trendbook and a 1,000+ color program.

The company's product portfolio is organized across Beachwear (its 50+ year core), Competition, Technical & Sports, Fitness, Apparel, Lingerie, Footwear, and Furnishing categories. Underlying technology is built around circular/warp knitting of bi-elastic stretch fabrics with engineered performance properties — chlorine resistance (>2x standard), UV protection (UPF 50+), sun cream and oil resistance, muscle compression, breathability, and quick drying. Key proprietary assets include the Revolutional™ family, covered by two international patents (construction and production process); the Vita and Vita Power lines made with ECONYL® regenerated nylon under a global exclusive shared with sister company Jersey Lomellina for the swimwear industry; Vita Life (launched February 2025) combining ECONYL® with 70% bio-derived LYCRA® Eco Made elastomer; the Artica thermal-regulation fabric; and patented sand-resistant fabric construction.

Carvico's business model is sales-led B2B with a sustainability-led product and certification strategy. It holds Made Green in Italy (CLASS A) and ISO 14067:2018 Carbon Footprint certifications for Vita and Revolutional™ families (adhered August 8, 2024, verified by Bureau Veritas), GRS certification, and ISO/AATCC testing compliance, all of which are procurement-relevant in EU apparel supply chains. The company is family-controlled, led by President and CEO Laura Colnaghi Calissoni (Forbes 100 Most Influential Women, 2021) and CEO Stefano Eretti, with no external private equity or venture capital reported; no M&A, IPO, or funding events appear in the inputs.

Name

Carvico

Legal name

Carvico SpA

Website

https://carvico.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Carvico is a privately held Italian B2B textile manufacturer, founded in 1962, that produces elastic warp-knitted fabrics — including the patented Revolutional™ and ECONYL®-based Vita families — for fashion brands, swimwear manufacturers, and sportswear companies worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bergamo

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Elastic warp-knitted fabric sales: Carvico generates revenue by manufacturing and selling high-quality elastic circular/warp-knitted fabrics to fashion brands, swimwear manufacturers, sportswear companies, and other textile companies. The company operates on a B2B model, selling fabric rolls/collections directly to garment manufacturers and brand designers. Fabrics are sold in various weights, compositions, and performance grades with pricing based on fabric type, composition, and volume. The company offers annual color collections (Trendbook) and product customization through color cards.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Carvico manufactures and sells elastic warp-knitted (indemagliabili) fabrics used by fashion brands, swimwear manufacturers, sportswear companies, and garment makers for beachwear, competitive swimwear, sportswear, athleisure, fitness, and outerwear. The product portfolio spans the patented Revolutional™ family, the ECONYL®-based Vita sustainable line, brushed thermal fabrics, bonded performance fabrics, and matte charmeuse bases, with over 1,000 colors available across the annual collection.

Product overview

Carvico is a B2B textile manufacturer specializing in high-quality elastic warp-knitted fabrics for swimwear, sportswear, and outerwear since 1962. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio organized into fabric categories: Beachwear (core business with 50+ years history), Competition, Technical & Sports, Fitness, Apparel, Lingerie, Footwear, and Furnishing. Key product families include the Revolutional™ line (patented ultra-thin techno-fabrics), Vita family (eco-sustainable with ECONYL®), Norway Plus (brushed thermal), Artica (anti-bacterial technical), and various bonded fabrics. All products are 100% Made in Italy with rigorous quality testing. Recent innovations include Vita Life (regenerated polyamide + bio-derived elastomer) launched February 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Performance Evolution: The company's brand positioning and product line philosophy emphasizing technical fabric performance.
• Jersey Lomellina

Products and services

• Revolutional™ State-of-the-art patented techno fabric (two international patents) that is ultra-thin (50% less than traditional charmeuse) and lightweight (155 g/m²), providing 4-way stretch, UPF 50+ UV protection, breathability, quick-drying performance, and resistance to pilling, chlorine, sand, and wear; for high-performance swimwear and sportswear brands.
• Revolutional™ Eco Sustainable version of Revolutional™ made with regenerated ECONYL® nylon thread, offering perfect fit, silhouette shaping, UPF 50+ UV protection, and resistance to pilling, abrasion, chlorine, and sand; for eco-friendly technical swimwear and sportswear collections.
• Revolutional™ Teddy Revolutional™ family fabric with an exceptionally soft, smooth hand feel, ultra-flat surface, UPF 50+ sun resistance, and resistance to pilling; for high-performance swimwear and sportswear garments requiring next-to-skin comfort.
• Revolutional™ Twist Performance fabric from the Revolutional™ family featuring lightweight compactness, matte surface, 3D ton-sur-ton micro-stripe texture, and unprecedented comfort; for stylish technical sportswear and athleisure.
• Revolutional™ Zenit Extremely elastic, ultra-comfortable techno fabric from the Revolutional™ family with a soft, embracing hand feel and high muscular support, perfect fit, and shape retention even after frequent use; for high-performance athletic apparel.
• Revolutional™ Energy Heaviest fabric in the Revolutional™ family delivering a high shaping effect, excellent muscular support that delays lactic acid formation, and reduced muscle fatigue; for competitive athletic apparel.
• Revolutional™ Gloss Techno fabric from the Revolutional™ family with a glamorous, glossy look, delivering the patented ultra-thin, lightweight, chlorine-resistant, and UPF 50+ performance; for fashion-forward swimwear and sportswear.
• Revolutional™ Mild Ultra-light (115 g/m²) techno fabric from the Revolutional™ family that fits like a second skin and supports athletic movement without constraints; ideal for swimsuits with tone-on-tone or contrasting linings.
• Revolutional™ Shiro Polyester techno fabric from the Revolutional™ family with an ultra-white, super-matte surface optimized for transfer prints, providing excellent print vibrancy and resistance to pilling and abrasion; for printed swimwear and sportswear.
• Vita Eco-sustainable techno fabric made with regenerated ECONYL® nylon yarn, versatile and hyper-resistant, with more than double the resistance to chlorine, sun creams, and oils compared to competitor fabrics; for sustainable swimwear and sportswear.
• Vita Power Eco-sustainable techno fabric made with regenerated ECONYL® nylon, providing exceptional recovery and proper muscle compression to slow lactic acid formation and accelerate physical recovery, plus UPF 50+ UV protection; for performance sportswear.
• Vita Life Revolutionary eco-sustainable fabric combining regenerated polyamide (ECONYL®) with LYCRA® Eco Made elastomer (70% bio-derived materials); bisphenol-free, with UV protection, chlorine resistance, breathability, durability, and comfort; for activewear and athleisure.
• Vita PL Eco-sustainable polyester techno fabric made with 100% recycled polyester from pre- and post-consumer waste, with excellent colorfastness in fluorescent shades and optimized for transfer prints; for swimwear, sportswear, and footwear linings.
• Vita Touch Vita family fabric with a matte surface and soft, warm, natural suede-like hand feel, made from recycled polyamide; for versatile outfits, especially jackets, tops, and cocoon-style garments.
• Norway Plus Fabric with a soft brushed effect made with 100% ECONYL® regenerated nylon from pre/post-consumer waste, providing good opacity, excellent breathability, and thermal insulation; for high-performance sportswear garments.
• Vuelta Techno fabric subjected to a brushing (garzatura) process that enhances thermal insulation by creating a protective cushion, with excellent breathability and antibacterial treatment; for cool-weather sportswear.
• Atlanta Plus High-performance fabric for sports apparel including extreme activities, providing proper muscle compression without constriction and resisting pilling, abrasion, UV rays (UPF 50+), and chlorine; for performance and extreme sportswear.
• Aosta Bonded performance fabric that is soft and velvety against the skin, warm on one side, non-see-through, and wraparound, with excellent thermal protection and shape retention; for sportswear and outerwear.
• Artica Bi-elastic, anti-bacterial, brushed technical fabric combining polyamide, polyester, and elastane, with hollow microfilaments that continuously regulate athlete temperature; provides thermal insulation, moisture control, UPF 50+ UV protection, and breathability; for cold-weather sportswear.
• Malaga Quintessential 80-20 matte charmeuse fabric offering the perfect balance between lightness and elasticity, with resistance to chlorine, abrasion, and UV protection; over 100 shades always in stock; for swimwear and beachwear.
• Malaga Rec Next-generation matte charmeuse made from 80% recycled polyamide, combining elegance and comfort with excellent elasticity and a perfect fit that does not restrict movement; resistant to pilling and chlorine with UPF 50+ protection; for sustainable swimwear.
• Morea Matte polyamide fabric that is lightweight and comfortable, follows the silhouette without constriction, resists pilling and chlorine, and offers UPF 50+ UV protection; for draped, youthful, fresh beachwear.
• Morea Rec Lightweight and fluid fabric made from 80% recycled polyamide that wraps the silhouette naturally without constriction, ensuring comfort and freedom of movement; resistant to pilling and chlorine with UPF 50+ protection; for sustainable beachwear.
• Brisbane Rec

Quantifiable outcome

• Chlorine, sun cream, and oil resistance more than double standard fabrics
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Maratona dles Dolomites-EnelcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010A 15-year partnership (since 2010) between Carvico and the Maratona dles Dolomites-Enel cycling event. Carvico supplies the iconic Carvico Vest — an essential, lightweight, aerodynamic, and protective gilet — distributed annually to thousands of athletes in the event's goodie bag. The vest is made from Norway and Revolutional™ Eco fabrics with over 70% ECONYL® content. The partnership has produced a 15-year collection of vests, each with a new design and story, making them collector's items sought by participants. Both entities share the same passion for sport, respect for the environment, and care for details.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sitip: Italian circular-knit technical fabric manufacturer serving sportswear, athleisure, and intimate apparel. Comparable to Carvico on warp/circular-knit technical textiles for performance and fashion applications.
• Tessitura Taiana: Italian warp-knit fabric mill specializing in technical fabrics for swimwear, sportswear, and fashion applications. Comparable to Carvico on warp-knit construction technology and swimwear/sportswear end-market focus.
• Maglificio Ripa: Italian warp/circular-knit fabric manufacturer producing stretch fabrics for swimwear, sportswear, lingerie, and ready-to-wear. Directly comparable to Carvico on knit fabric construction for performance and fashion apparel.
• Jersey Lomellina: Italian warp-knit fabric mill frequently referenced alongside Carvico as a sister company under common ownership. Produces complementary performance and fashion knit fabrics for swimwear, sportswear, and intimate apparel — sharing ECONYL® exclusive rights for swimwear, making it the closest comparable peer.
• Eurojersey: Italian warp-knit fabric producer (Sensitive® Fabrics line) serving sportswear, swimwear, intimates, and ready-to-wear. Competes head-to-head with Carvico on technical stretch fabrics for premium European and global apparel brands.
• Brugnoli Giovanni: Italian circular-knit fabric mill producing technical fabrics for swimwear, sportswear, and fashion. Competes with Carvico in stretch, performance, and sustainable knit fabrics (including recycled-yarn lines) for premium European apparel brands.

Broad incumbents

• Toray Industries: Large Japanese diversified materials group producing synthetic fibers and performance textiles including swimwear and sportswear fabrics. Competes with Carvico at the upper end of the technical-textile market with much broader scale and R&D resources.
• The Lycra Company: Global leader in elastane/spandex fibers (LYCRA®) used in Carvico's Vita Life and many other stretch fabrics. Comparable as a fiber-innovation incumbent supplying performance apparel and swimwear fabric mills.
• Aquafil: Italian synthetic-fiber manufacturer and producer of ECONYL® regenerated nylon — Carvico's upstream partner and exclusive supplier for swimwear-grade regenerated nylon. Comparable as a vertical partner shaping sustainable textile supply in the same end markets.

Emerging players

• Teijin Frontier: Japanese textile subsidiary of Teijin producing performance and sustainable synthetic fabrics for sportswear, swimwear, and fashion. Comparable to Carvico on the technical/regenerated-fiber side, though operating primarily in Asian end markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CarvicoSpA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/carvico-s-p-a-
• Instagraminstagram.com/carvicofabrics
• Xx.com/carvicospa

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Carvico