What CIFRA does

CIFRA Srl is an Italian B2B manufacturer specializing in Warp Knit Seamless (WKS™) garments for private-label and international apparel brands. Founded in 1961 and headquartered in Verano Brianza, Italy, the company employs 51-100 people and operates a 4,000 sqm production facility equipped with proprietary Raschel and Jacquard double needle bar warp knitting machines. CIFRA's technology knits entire garments in a continuous tubular process without seams, achieving up to 30% waste reduction versus cut-and-sew methods and a daily capacity of 10,000 garments with five-minute design changeovers. Product capabilities have been extended through exclusive developments including merino wool knitting on warp machines (2022) and warp knit panels using double layer jacquard technology (2025).

The company's product portfolio spans six categories: sportswear, fashion, hosiery and lingerie, shapewear, beachwear, and warp jackets. CIFRA operates a made-to-order business model, supplying both greige and dyed/finished garments exclusively to brands with their own labels at MOQs of 300 units per size and color. Pricing is quote-based, prototype fees range from 100-300 euros, and multi-year contracts are typical. While all knitting is performed in Italy, sewing and dyeing are executed through partnerships in Italy, Sri Lanka, Portugal, Moldova, Albania, Romania, Turkey, and the USA, enabling exports to 25+ countries. The company holds a dense ESG certification stack (OEKO-TEX Standard 100, STeP, GRS, Higg FEM/FSLM, Synesgy, 100% GREEN Energy) and strategic fiber partnerships with Roica (Asahi Kasei), HeiQ, and Polygiene. CIFRA remains privately held under founder/management ownership with no external funding.

Name

CIFRA

Legal name

CIFRA Srl

Website

https://wks-cifra.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

CIFRA is an Italian B2B manufacturer using proprietary WKS warp knitting technology to produce seamless garments for private-label and international apparel brands across sportswear, fashion, hosiery, shapewear, beachwear, and warp jackets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Monza

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Private Label / White Label Garment Manufacturing: CIFRA manufactures garments exclusively for private-label brands and major international brands. The company sells to clothing companies with their own brand only — it does not sell garments under its own brand. Revenue is generated through the production of made-to-order garments, including greige (unfinished) and dyed/finished garments across sportswear, fashion, hosiery, lingerie, shapewear, beachwear, and warp jacket categories.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

CIFRA manufactures Warp Knit Seamless (WKS™) garments on a made-to-order basis exclusively for private-label apparel brands and major international clothing companies. Production uses proprietary Raschel double needle bar Jacquard warp knitting technology in a 4,000 sqm facility in Verano Brianza, Italy, with a daily capacity of 10,000 garments across sportswear, fashion, hosiery, lingerie, shapewear, beachwear, and warp jackets. The company supplies both greige (unfinished) and dyed/finished garments and does not sell under its own brand.

Product overview

CIFRA is an Italian B2B manufacturing company specializing in warp knit seamless technology, producing garments for major international brands. The company operates as a 'warp knit centre of excellence' using proprietary WKS (Warp Knit Seamless) technology with Raschel double needle bar Jacquard machines. CIFRA's portfolio spans six main product categories: Sportswear, Fashion, Hosiery & Lingerie, Shapewear, Beachwear, and Warp Jackets. All products are manufactured using seamless knitting processes where garments are knitted whole rather than cut and sewn. The company operates made-to-order manufacturing with a production capacity of 10,000 garments per day, serving private brands with MOQ of 300 units per size and color.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sportswear Made-to-order athletic and performance apparel produced using WKS warp knit seamless technology, designed for comfort, breathability, and durability during physical activities. Manufactured for private-label apparel brands.
• Fashion Seamless fashion garments including tights and apparel created using WKS warp knitting technology for seamless construction and innovative knit designs for fashion apparel brands.
• Hosiery & Lingerie Seamless hosiery and lingerie products manufactured using circular warp knitting technology for superior comfort, fit, and no-show seams, produced for private-label hosiery and lingerie brands.
• Shapewear Body-contouring shapewear produced with 3D warp knitting technology that provides seamless construction and comfortable compression for shapewear brands.
• Beachwear Sustainable swimwear manufactured using ethical and environmentally safe yarns such as ECONYL, SENSIL, Amni SOUL ECO, TENCEL, and RENYCLE with warp knitting technology, for swimwear brands.
• Warp Jackets Seamless warp knitted jackets utilizing Raschel double needle bar Jacquard machines for intricate patterns and luxurious appearance, produced for fashion brands.
• Warp Knit Panels Warp knit panels produced using double layer jacquard technology, enabling panel-based garments for apparel brands.
• Custom Gym Clothing Manufacturing Made-to-order custom gym clothing manufactured via WKS warp knit seamless technology with customer-supplied designs, for fitness and sportswear brands. MOQ 1000 units/style or 500 units/each size; MCQ 500 units/colour.

Quantifiable outcome

• Warp seamless technology reduces cut-sewn garment waste by up to 30%
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Roica (Asahi Kasei)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 October 2025CIFRA is one of four European partners of Roica, the premium stretch fibre brand owned by Asahi Kasei. CIFRA exhibits at Performance Days Munich showcasing its latest collections featuring Roica fibres. A special highlight is the official uniforms of Expo 2025 Osaka developed by Craftevo-V&A Japan using compostable Roica V550 stretch fibre.
• Sewing and Dyeing Partners (Italy, Sri Lanka, Portugal, Moldova, Albania, Romania, Turkey, USA)supportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWhile all knitting operations are entirely made in Italy, CIFRA has partnerships for sewing and dyeing operations in Italy, Sri Lanka, Portugal, Moldova, Albania, Romania, Turkey, and the USA.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Jersey Lomellina: Italian circular knit fabric mill producing premium stretch fabrics for swimwear, sportswear, and intimate apparel. Comparable to CIFRA in serving global apparel brands with engineered knit fabrics from an Italian base, though using circular rather than warp knitting.
• Eurojersey: Italian warp and circular knit fabric producer (Sensitive Fabrics, Sensil by Nilit) for sportswear, swimwear, and ready-to-wear. Comparable to CIFRA in warp-knit textile manufacturing for premium global apparel brands and in Italian technical-textile heritage.
• Maglificio Ripa: Italian knit apparel manufacturer producing seamless sportswear, underwear, and bodywear for private-label international brands. Highly comparable to CIFRA in B2B seamless knit manufacturing model, customer base (global apparel brands), and Italian production heritage.
• Brugnoli Giovanni: Italian circular knit fabric mill producing high-end stretch fabrics for swimwear, sportswear, and intimate apparel. Comparable to CIFRA in B2B engineered knit fabric manufacturing serving global fashion and sportswear brands from Italy.
• Carvico: Italian warp and circular knit fabric manufacturer specializing in technical textiles for sportswear, swimwear, and athleisure. Comparable to CIFRA in warp-knit technology focus, Italian manufacturing base, and private-label B2B serving global apparel brands.
• Piave Maitex: Italian technical knit fabric mill producing engineered textiles for sportswear, workwear, and medical applications. Comparable to CIFRA in B2B engineered knit fabric manufacturing for performance apparel, with overlapping customer types in private-label global brands.

Others

• Karl Mayer: German warp-knitting machine manufacturer and CIFRA's primary technology supplier. Relevant as both a strategic supplier and the broader industry reference point; Karl Mayer's innovation roadmap shapes the technological ceiling for CIFRA's WKS platform.

Broad incumbents

• Shima Seiki: Japanese manufacturer of WHOLEGARMENT seamless whole-garment knitting machines and a global incumbent in computerized flat knitting. Comparable to CIFRA as the dominant weft-knit alternative for seamless apparel production, addressing overlapping customers via a competing seamless-knit technology.
• Santoni (Lonati Group): Italian seamless knitting machinery manufacturer (part of Lonati Group), producing machines for hosiery, bodywear, and seamless apparel. Comparable to CIFRA as the dominant European machinery enabler for seamless knit apparel, addressing an overlapping customer base from a machinery-vendor perspective.

Regional players

• Tessitura Taiana Virgilio: Italian warp-knit fabric mill with a long heritage, focused on technical textiles for fashion and industrial applications. Comparable to CIFRA in warp-knit fabric manufacturing expertise and Italian production heritage, with a more regional/industrial customer mix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/cifra_active
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cifra-spa

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 CIFRA