Vitale Barberis Canonico

For Vitale Barberis Canonico, 1936 was an annus mirabilis. After 1663, at the time of the first testimonial to a Barberis (or rather, a Barbero) being active in the field of textile manufacture, 1936 is the most important year. In reality, this is the foundational moment of the current company. 1936 was the central year of an intense and difficult decade, between anniversaries and news.
It was spring 1931 and the new decade began with a victory! “In the afternoon of Sunday, the 26th of this month, a friendly football match took place at the Barberis Canonico sports ground between the black and whites of our after-work sports club and the maroons from Crevacuore. The match ended with a victory for our bold players, who scored four goals to two, the game being, to be honest, rather disconnected on both sides in the first half. Our team demonstrated a slight advantage. The referee was Mr. Jaconis Santino. A numerous and …. rambunctious crowd cheered the players on.”
These were the years following the Great Depression of 1929 and Italy was trying to regroup itself by means of “State Capitalism” with the economic protectionism which favoured Italian companies, according to the beliefs of Mussolini. But beyond all the propaganda, there were workers and business people who had to work, and work hard, every day. And, as a rule, those who had more to give did not hold back, indeed, they gave more.

People wore soft fabrics in 1931 and the following years. A dress suit was light brown, or blue was also acceptable. In the Historical Archives, there is reliable proof of this. Some Rs (which probably stand for “references”) in the tomes of Fancies from this period have the same colours as Vitale Barberis Canonico today. Woven designs, discreet but tasteful. Blacks were never truly black, nor were greys sad. The British preferred vertical stripes with silk details. The French, however, appreciated multi-coloured checked flannels, similar to tartans.

At the beginning of February 1933, we read that “in the last days, 50 years of happy marriage were celebrated between the entrepreneur Mr. Giuseppe Barberis Canonico and Mrs. Adele Castelli; a union with happy auspices, as 10 children were born of it, of which eight are still alive. Of these, six are industrial leaders and have held the Barberis Canonico name high – for centuries – providing work for more than 1,000 employees. Until a few years ago, the entrepreneur, Giuseppe Barberis Canonico increased the wool production in his factory, following the traditions of his family.” Some weeks later, the city’s fascist publication returned to the same topic: “50 years of happy marriage! It is at once just a date, but also a memorable, wished-for event, which brings with it a world of memories and evokes affectionate and gratifying emotions. But for the Barberis Canonico happy couple, it is the product of a life full of hard work, together with a sense of rectitude and goodness that made them admired and loved not only by their own employees, but by the whole population of Pratrivero and the surrounding area, who, in complete trust, has always had recourse to them in every circumstance, appreciating their delicate and charitable natures, their judgement and their opinions which have always been given with calmness and the solid, innate wish to do good wherever and whenever they can. This characteristic of kindness, which shines through their every deed, should not be denied on this auspicious occasion. Their noble hearts, always oriented towards good works, has decided that the date of their Golden Wedding anniversary should be marked with the truly golden characteristics of charity, by donating, among other things, the sum of 25,000 lire to the hospital for the creation of a bed in commemoration of the day.”

In 1934, the partnership between the two brothers, Oreste and Vitale, had been extended until at least 1938, but on 31st December 1935 this partnership was already in liquidation. On 4th May 1936, Oreste established his company together with Antonio Barberis Conte. The old company probably was left to Vitale and the name was changed. When, on 13th June 1935, the Federal Secretary of the National Fascist Party, Cavalier Piero Pozzo visited the company Oreste e Vitale Barberis Canonico, the split had perhaps already been decided. However, the guest was able to see the company still as it had been: “and in the decorated hall he spoke to more than 300 factory workers of the actions which the Regime is undertaking for the population by means of social and cooperative laws, and with infinite work relating to social security. At the end of the speech, the workers renewed their salute to the Duce, who has the interests of the workers at heart. The Comrades Barberis Canonico, praised by Piero Pozzo, provided further information about the progress of the company, and the Federal Minister complimented them on the organisation of the factory in terms of relations with the workers.”