Gicipi was founded in 1948 in Padua, a city in northern Italy. This area is home to many fashion-related companies and has produced numerous world-renowned brands. Gicipi operates a fully integrated factory, a rarity these days. Vintage machines are still in active use, handling everything from pattern making, cutting, and sewing to finishing in-house. Unusually for present-day Italy, they even source materials and produce knitted fabrics themselves. "Our greatest strength is that from a single type of yarn, we can create countless weaves, designs, and further processes, producing an infinite number of products," boasts representative Francesco. Since its establishment, their commitment has been to "natural materials" and "quality first." They are not the stereotypical "cheerful and friendly" Italians. Rather, their "quiet and earnest" dedication, saying little, resonates with the Japanese aesthetic.