In 1890 the young Vittorio Papi started his business as a wool spinner in Faenza. Following a devastating fire, he moved in 1897 to a new plant in the Emilian Apennines; precisely in Gaggio Montano, Bologna, where the company is still based today.

The plant was certainly innovative and mechanized for its time and produced wool yarns with local raw materials, very abundant at that time in the area and the production was sold at a profit in the area between the valleys of the Silla and Reno rivers, up to to the city of Bologna.

The machines work with the driving force produced by an imposing wheel moved by the water of the stream. This start was short lived; in fact the young Vittorio, in January 1903, fell irremediably ill with bronchopneumonia and left the company to his only son, Oreste, aged only 17.

Oreste immediately took over the reins of the small business and despite his young age of 17, he soon demonstrated a strong entrepreneurial sense and skill in the trade. The good profits of the company pushed him to build new premises annexed to the first one, already functioning, as well as an important land of various agri, with the right to take water in order to draw motive power.

In the meantime Oreste married Palmira Mati and two sons were born, Vittorio junior and Fabio. As with his father, fate was not very benevolent to him; in fact in January 1918 he was called to arms for the Great War and in October of the same year, the soldier Oreste Papi died, struck by the "Spagnola," which killed more than 650,000 people in Italy and over 50 million across Europe.

The commendable will of the widow of Oreste, Palmira Mati shows itself very quickly with the tenacity that distinguishes it; she continues the tiring journey at the head of the company, also bearing the burden of the family, consisting of three children, two sons Vittorio junior and Fabio and little Elena, and several sisters of her husband Oreste. She initially consolidates the positions she acquired from her husband.

She had to fight against competitors already present in the area and with the severe crisis of '29. Despite all this, she managed to maintain her positions and increase the production capacity of the spinning mill and its commercial network. Her commitment to the company continued until 1933 when the two children joined the company and she was able to get them to undertake and complete their studies in textiles.

The tiring journey of the widow Papi has reached three decades, when the two sons Vittorio junior and Fabio officially entered after completing their studies in textiles. The company started using the new logo of "Lanificio Oreste Papi fu Vittorio". It didn't take much time before the new impetus given to the wool mill by the two brothers to be highlighted. A dyeing department and a weaving department were soon built with new jacquard looms.

The new direction produces progress with good satisfaction but, with the arrival of the 40s, the black clouds of the Second World War appeared on the horizon. The company's headquarters was located exactly on the famous "Gothic Line" created by Germany to slow down the advance of the allies. The continuous bombings lead to a forced suspension of the activity.

Hastily, several tunnels were dug under the factory buildings to hide the disassembled machines in small pieces. Production was suspended in September 1943 until the end of 1944. The recovery saw the workers, several orphans and war widows and was made even more difficult by the lack of energy and many raw materials. Fortunately, the demand for new products on the market is very strong.

Everything is needed and the system is continuously active 24 hours a day. The two brothers, Vittorio and Fabio continued their management of the business until the years 1965-1967, showing a certain tiredness. A new generational change was expected and the two respective sons, Oreste junior and Francesco, joined the company, also after completing their studies in textiles.

In the second half of the 1960s, Vittorio's son Oreste jr and Fabio's son Francesco joined the company, giving a new boost to the company and once again strengthening production. We now produce yarns for weaving and knitting and fabrics, simple and more elaborated fabrics.

The commercial network is completed in Italy and exports to some European countries begin. The two cousins were also supported and helped by their respective wives, Giuseppina and Marilena and after a few years, this wonderful balance that seems to be very strong and indestructible, instead collapses. Vittorio, suddenly struck by an incurable disease, dies at the age of 64 in the spring 1973. His son Oreste together with his wife Giuseppina immediately showed their desire to break away from their paternal society, leaving only their uncle Fabio and their son Francesco. Fabio, also unfortunately in poor health, suffers the consequences of this very serious sorrow; he will never rise again and will pass away after years of suffering in January 1980.

The story continues now with his son Francesco helped by the excellent cooperation of his wife Marilena. From 1 January 1975 the new company also has a new logo "Filatura Papi Fabio spa". The company grows thanks to new product and commercial strategies, with an important internal reorganization that also leads to new investments in machinery for higher quality and production efficiency. The production specializes more and more on the creation of fine and special yarns for knitting and weaving, still today the basis of the company strategy carried out by the 5th generation, represented by his son Fabio Jr. and his wife Serena Barbieri.

After completing his studies in business administration at the University of Bologna, the young Fabio joins the family company and immediately builds a new and more complete commercial network. 

Few years later, his wife Serena Barbieri also becomes part of the Company and takes an active role in the management team.

Her role consists of handling the purchases of fine raw materials that are used in the production of more refined yarns. This generation soon demonstrates the ability to advance Filatura Papi Fabio, redesigning strategies and reorganizing various departments of the company.

The path undertaken by the parents, which aimed at penetrating the highest segments of the market, comes to realization. Increasingly valuable raw materials are used to make the yarns required by the most qualified customers in the fashion sector. 

Within this context of excellence, a new collection of worsted yarns is created. Conceived in Bologna, the new collection makes use of satellite partner spinning mills in the district of Biella to manufacture the best product. The high-quality woollen and worsted yarns of the two new collections progressively increase the image of the company, which is now considered among the first in Europe for its innovative research and for its niche products.

The implants and machinery in the headquarters of Gaggio Montano and external areas are results of constant and advanced technological research, supported by continuous investments focused on achieving greater quality and production efficiency. 

A qualified external team of Italian stylists, assisted by our internal technical and commercial staff, collaborate together in the creation of new collections based on the opportunities and needs of the international market. 

The first and foremost commitment of Filatura Papi Fabio is today aimed at expressing the best tradition of "Made in Italy" in the new globalized market. 

In 2020 the company celebrates 130 years of activity, introducing the new logo shown below.