STORIES OF PEOPLE FROM THE WORLD OF ITALMOBILIARE
DISCOVERING YOUNG ARTISANS
Stories of young people whose work for the Group features a high degree of craftsmanship. Precisely those young craftsmen and women who - if you read the news - seem impossible to find.
But we found them and discovered that they are not only very skilful, but also extremely proud of their work.
Elisa Baccin and Giacomo Gallina handle two very important parts of the production of SIDI Sports, an iconic Italian brand that specialises in the production and sale of footwear for cycling and motorcycling used by the most important professional athletes and enthusiasts around the world.
Giacomo works on the conveyor belt along which the workstations of the artisans who assemble the shoes are located. The conveyor belt is the heart of any footwear company; here the upper is joined to the sole and the shoe takes shape.
Elisa's work, on the other hand, is in finishing. She has the task of finishing each shoe, checking that it is absolutely perfect. They have the same goal, to make the best cycling shoes and motorcycle boots in the world, but they have two completely different stories to tell.
Giacomo, 25 years old, joined Sidi when he was only sixteen years old "I knocked on the company's door to hand in my CV. Having never worked before, I had only written my name, address and telephone number. A few hours later I was called for an interview. They told me that in Sidi there was always room for those who wanted to work and invited me to do a trial period." How the test went is evident, nine years later Giacomo knows every phase of a production process that "you only learn completely after 4 or 5 years of work. Even if in reality you never really stop learning."
Elisa is 31 years old, she has been at Sidi for about three years and is responsible for meticulously checking and finishing the shoes that come off the production line. Scissors, cutter, brush and para, a special eraser used to remove traces of glue, are her tools of the trade: "The shoes have to be spotless and without any defects. My job is to finish off every detail to ensure that every product is perfect." Because this is what Sidi customers are looking for: perfection.
What Giacomo and Elisa have in common is pride in what they do. "I don't ride either a motorbike or a bicycle, but after working at Sidi for some time I found myself observing cyclists resting at the bar after a long ride to check if they were wearing our shoes" Elisa says almost by chance at the end of our chat. "The same happens when I see a motorbike speeding down the street, I look at the rider's boots. And if they are Sidi, I can't help smiling, because I know that they contain my work."
For Giacomo it's the same: "When I watch motorcycle races, it's fantastic to see the champions wearing Sidi, because it's proof that I work for one of the best companies in the world", then he becomes serious and adds "This makes me feel calm, as I know I have real skills and can look to the future with confidence." And it is when speaking of the future that Giacomo says "I'm happy to see this new phase of the company. After the entry of Italmobiliare, many things are changing: we are testing new processes, new methods, new materials. There are many new features, and this is a great stimulus for those who do my job, as well as a positive signal."
