The name alone is enough to invoke wrapping softness, seduction promises, Pierre Mantoux, the trademark which has been dressing the most beautiful legs in the world for over 70 years, has always known how to charm even at first sight its extremely elegant custom.
Women who demand quality and love fantasy, a formula which has never been betrayed by the trademark owner Ilcat stocking factory of Milano. It was in 1932 when Ottorini Giangrossi, an importer of German stockings, decide to put his experience to interest. He started business on his own with four looms and a great entrepreneurial spirit. He was greatly assisted by his sister-in-law, a valuable contributor to the company's success. So a small business started up that was destined to play a very important part in the new world of dress accessories.
It was the Industria Lombarda Calze a Telaio (ILCAT), which immediately stood out from its competitors because of the quality of the raw materials. Only Italian silk — no Rayon — in the name of refinement and quality. In the early post-war years, the turning point. The old German looms gave way to revolutionary America looms and to English circular machines. In those years production was entirely intended for the wholesale market.
Yet another change was about to take place: Remo, Ottorino's son took control of the company. An extraordinarily sensitive technician, this young manager having just graduated in Economics and Business at Bocconi University improved his expertise during a long apprenticeship at the plant. That is not an uncommon experience with Italian entrepreneurial families. A training that would prove to be invaluable, as from the Sixties, when Velia, Remo's wife joined the business.
It was their union, exclusive and very solid, that breathed new life into the business. He was very good at finding new formulas for fading and soft yarns, and at finding solutions to seemingly unsolvable technical problems. She asked for perfection, for the impossible: he knew how to meet these demands.
Together they created Pierre Mantoux, and so the trademark was born, and distribution passed from wholesale to retail. Their research and development was tireless. Velia chose to personally present the new products to the most important customers, including the legendary tights-stockings. She sought out their requirements, and absorbed the fashion trends, and realised what women and designers of the 1970's were demanding: colour in their hosiery. Velia Giangrossi selected 56 very delicate shades, and since that date, discerning elegant ladies all over the world would wear a Pierre Mantoux Top 15 colour to complement her outfit. Thousands of exceptionally sheer tights with tiny dots would come in from the stand of Via Giovanni da Verrazzano. Competition broke out, but it would take months to reproduce the sophisticated detail that Pierre Mantoux could make.
In 1982, the Scala-lace was born, a model which would stay at the top of sales for many years. By then, stockings had become a fashion element rather than an accessory, whilst Pierre Mantoux stockings were gaining a world-wide reputation and market. Pressing demand was coming from London, Paris, Japan, and the United States, and the company was struggling to keep-up with global demand for their products. Stocks were sold out, and the ready-to-wear demanded Pierre Mantoux: from Armani to Valentino, Genny, Mila Schon, Romeo Gigli, C. Lacroix, Alaia, Dolce e Gabbana, Mariella Burani, Basile, Ferragamo, and Alberti Ferretti. And it was one success after another. In 1984 the New York Times paid its respects to the extraordinary couple who could make the most hard-to-please women fall in love by a simple detail.
As a matter of fact 'Gala Speciale' with a small knot and 'Tuttonudo' were worn by Princess of Wales, Diana — the most prestigious Pierre Mantoux testimonial. During the 1980's new, huge companies started up out of nothing, but the Giangrossis, then helped by their daughters Patrizia and Fulvia, did not let themselves be tempted. Small is beautiful. A family business is, in this case, a guarantee of reliability and prestige. And it does not matter if the stocking with hand-applied stars, or with ribbons, the striped, and the sophisticated mesh are always sold out. It takes time to produce quality. Even now that Remo is no longer there, and the firms' management and creativity are now in the hands of three women, the formula remains the same. The three mantoux ladies study together and test novelties which are going to be tomorrow's market leaders.
If we, and our collaborators, like the products, they say, then it will be a success. That is why, without hesitation, they created after two years of research and development the first cashmere yarn, and as a family tradition requires, but above all, as its customers demand, at Pierre Mantoux they continue to combine pragmatism with creativity into a magical miscellany, which, by alchemy is turned into the most precious and fascinating stockings that you could ever wish for!!