“The present, with all its complexity and dynamism, can only be tackled through a deep understanding of the past”. With these words, Laura Dalla Vecchia, President of Confindustria Vicenza, introduced Antichi per Sempre (Forever Ancient), the volume celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Vicenza Tanning Section of the regional business association. Presented last Wednesday (16 April 2025) in Vicenza, at the headquarters in Palazzo Thiene Bonin Longare, the book also provided an opportunity to reflect on the current state of the Vicenza tanning industry.
Eighty years of the Vicenza Tanning Section
“Leather has accompanied humanity since the beginning”, explains Mirko Balsemin, President of the Tanning Section. “It’s a living material that tells stories across countries, eras, and civilisations. It symbolises protection, warmth and memory, but also resilience and transformation. These timeless values are the foundation of this publication, which not only pays tribute to the past but also bravely addresses the challenges facing our sector and our region”.
As Balsemin puts it, “We have an ancient history behind us, but we remain true pioneers – renowned and imitated around the world”. It’s a story spanning 80 years, marked by “34 committees, 15 presidents”, he continues. “It’s a long, complex, and shared history”. A history built by entrepreneurs – “tanners who, with iron will, have always managed to balance pessimism and optimism with determination, constantly moving forward and persevering”. In this spirit, Antichi per Sempre is “a book that seeks to prompt reflection and encourage evolution”.
Antichi per Sempre
Many voices have contributed to piecing together the historical and cultural mosaic of Antichi per Sempre. Among them: Bernardo Finco, Fulvia Bacchi, Matteo Macilotti, Edoardo Imperiale, Giuseppe Pulina, Ermete Realacci, Massimo Neresini, Lorenzo Altissimo, Marino Smiderle, and Monsignor Giuliano Brugnotto. The volume also revisits selected writings by Fernando Zampiva, the late and much-remembered custodian of Vicenza tanning’s historical memory. Notably, it includes a contribution from Federico Faggin – inventor of the microchip and a leading figure in the world of physics.
The round table discussion
The book presentation was followed by a round table discussion titled “Work and Society: looking beyond the hurdle”. A wide-ranging and complex theme, the discussion allowed speakers to outline key principles of the tanning industry – values to be highlighted especially in today’s uncertain and difficult-to-decipher times. As Dalla Vecchia emphasised, it’s essential to “stay focused, just as we have during the many crises we’ve overcome in recent years, trying to keep costs under control”. Bernardo Finco poetically remarked that “tanning is like the sustain pedal on a piano – it extends the sound. It’s also part of the word ‘sustainability’: tanning sustains and extends the life of leather and the products made from it”.
Foresight
Fabrizio Nuti, President of UNIC – Italian Tanneries, closed the event by offering a fitting summary: “Foresight is what defines the Italian tanner. A 360-degree vision that has enabled us to stay ahead of sustainability trends, market developments, and the structure of our industrial districts. Our foresight has allowed our industry to take root in local areas – rather than arrive, bounce off and leave, as has happened in other countries. Whenever we’ve had the chance to decide for ourselves, we’ve made the right choices – thanks to foresight. When decisions come from elsewhere, from the outside, we’re forced to endure them – and they don’t allow us to evolve”.
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