The next chapter in Dean’s history is being written during the 100th edition of Lineapelle (20-22 September, Fieramilano Rho). Here Michele De Michele (in photo at the center), who has been the main character behind the first 50 years of activity for the Arzano tannery (Naples), receives buyers and representatives of luxury brands. “We have already met our main clients during the first two days of the fair. The ones most interested have come by twice – he says -. In 2022 large luxury brands grew, and even with the current uncertainties of this period, we are sure that by working properly we will continue to grow”.
Family effort
Michele De Michele is the son of Antonio, the founder of Dean, in 1972, put experience and competencies acquired from artisanal shops in Naples to good use. Today Michele runs the business with his son Antonio, third generation working inside the company. Together, they push the tannery, wich is specialized in lamb hides, to keep up with current times. “We started investing in 2018, when we redid the electric and thermic chambers – says Michele De Michele –, then in 2019 we bough new spraying machinery. During the pandemic, and even with the pandemic, we renewed a lot of our other machines. By the end of 2022, we want to complete this modernization process with the water treatment system and the installation of a photovoltaic system.
50 years of activities and the next 50
The various investments allowed Dean, which in the first 5 months of 2022 has already reached the revenue level for the entire 2021 FY, to obtain different environmental certifications (such as ICEC’s one). The company has also lowered its emissions, waste production, use of chemicals (-38% compared to the segment’s average in Europe), water used (-60% in 4 years) and energy consumed (-10% in 2 years).
It’s good to remember that when high-end fashion brands make sustainability claims – comments Antonio De Michele –, it does so thanks to the efforts of us suppliers”. The reduction of consumption is also useful, especially today, given the price increments everybody is experiencing. Dean’s response to the situation is based on creating synergies. “We have attentive clients willing to listen now – continues Antonio -, which is already better than just 6 months ago”. “We didn’t want to stonewall anybody on prices – concludes Michele – and we used the opposite approach and asked how far they were willing to go. That was the starting point for the negotiations. There is a way to make a deal”.
