A new Italian fashion prototyping and manufacturing company has been born. A new Italian joint venture marking the strategic alliance between Castor Fashion and Tec, two specialists in the sector, that took over the HIM Co RTW manufacturing and distribution company, establishing a new firm named Modartis. HIM Co RTW is a historic name in Italian prêt-à-porter, part of HIM Co SpA, or High Italian Manufacturing, which was formerly known as the Onward Luxury Group.
The new company inherits the prestigious legacy of Gibò, a firm founded by Carlo Zuccoli in 1960, becoming a leader in the production of ready-to-wear, knitwear, and leather goods for brands, which in the 1970s and 1980s produced garments for iconic fashion houses such as Giorgio Armani, Moschino, and Jean Paul Gaultier. In 1990, Gibò became part of the Japanese group Onward Holding Ltd, acquiring licenses for major international brands such as Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, Viktor & Rolf, Helmut Lang, John Galliano, and Alexander McQueen. In 2005, Gibò merged with Iris, a leading footwear company, to form Onward Luxury Group, which was later acquired by High Italian Manufacturing (HIM Co) in 2021.
The new company assigns 70% of the shares to Castor Fashion, founded by the Picozzi family and now controlled by the Italian fashion group, and the remaining 30% to Tec, which is owned by Roberto Zanetto, named president and chief executive officer of Modartis. Castor Fashion’s founder, Angela Picozzi, and its chief operating officer, Fabrizio Ruozzi, both take responsibility for product development and production, respectively. Based in Curno (Bergamo), Modartis boasts an integrated business for prototyping, production, logistics, licensing, and marketing of women’s, men’s, demi-couture, knitwear, and leather goods. Menswear in particular is the main focus of the company, complementing the high-end womenswear expertise of Castor Fashion and Tec.
“Castor, Tec, and HIM Co RTW share the values of the best Italian manufacturing and the ability to manage effectively complex supply chain platforms. With this new structure, we define a medium- to long-term business vision for Modartis,” said Roberto Zanetto and Andrea Citterio. “Despite the significant contribution of technology to the sector, fashion remains a people business, where it is people’s experience that makes the difference. In the friendly transition from HIM Co to Modartis, the company’s know-how was confirmed, and the staff immediately grasped the potential of the new course”.
In addition to human resources and operational headquarters, Modartis also picks up the existing agreements for apparel between HIM Co and Los Angeles-based designer Monique Lhuillier, French fashion house Rochas, and Israeli designer and 2019 LVMH Karl Lagerfeld Prize winner Hed Mayner.
