CANDIANI

Candiani, Albiate 1830 and Matias Showcase Italian Denim Innovation in L.A.

Albiate 1830, the denim division of Bergamo, Italy–based Italian mill Gruppo Albini, and Italian denim mill Candiani joined forces to create FineFusions, a collection that showcases “top Italian heritage, cutting-edge thinking and a virtuous spirit.”

The Italian mills turned to Los Angeles designer Matias Sandoval, owner of Matias Denim, to create a collection using fabrics from both companies.

The results were on display at the Candiani Los Angeles Design Center in downtown Los Angeles on June 30, where a group of local denim heads gathered to check out the collection, drop in on denim wash demonstrations and do a little DIY denim finishing of their own on special caps created using Candiani and Albiate 1830 fabrics. Party guests distressed their own caps before heading to the Jeanologia laser-finishing station to have custom messages etched into the final product.

LA denim brands make up a sizable percentage of business for Candiani, which has a similar Design Center at its headquarters in Robecchetto con Induno, Italy. Last year, Candiani opened the Los Angeles space to serve as an R&D center for U.S. denim labels to work with Candiani technicians on new wash techniques using equipment such as the Jeanologia laser-finishing machine, a spraying booth and stations for hand-finishing jeans. According to the company, the Candiani Design Center uses less water than the standard dry cleaner.