FENICIA SPA

COMPANIES AND ENTREPRENEURS ,   F

Fenicia Spa, Italian clothing company operating in the shirt sector

Shirt by Fenicia spa

Origins

The company Fenicia Spa was founded in the first years of the 20th century by the entrepreneurial spirit of the industrialist Giovanni Candido (1908-1991). Candido learned the art of tailoring in the historic shop in Palermo “tessuti Gulì”. Initially founded as an artisan workshop in Palermo, the company was founded under the name “CC” and in 1931, with a more solid and concrete structure, it was renamed “Fenicia”.  When Candido founded Fenicia, the shirt market was still characterized by craftsmanship, so he had the idea of producing shirts made with fabrics by Gulì.

Candido, the founder of Phenicia

After a period of crisis due to the Second World War, in 1947 he resumed his activity involving a dozen employees initially. The company continued to grow until the work was quadrupled and it had to deal with the modern rhythm and tools.

Turning point of the 60s

The turning point occurred in the 60s, when Gaspare Candido, son of Giovanni Candido assumed the direction of the production. With the second generation, Fenicia officially passed from an artisan business to an important industrial company on the Italian scene. Then the “just in time” production theory was introduced. The goal was to create collections in step with the times, able to meet the needs of the market especially in terms of wearability and comfort. In that period the company had over 320 employees and a widespread division of departments to ensure maximum quality and efficiency.

In 1967 it received the Premio Mercurio d’Oro award, assigned to important companies in the production development and economic collaboration of the country, and in 1974 it was awarded with the Premio Qualità Sicilia.

Factory of Fenicia Spa

1980s

In the 80s the company obtained the license of the brands: Krizia Uomo, Christian Dior, Pierre Balmain and Pierre Cardin. However, in 1983 the first signs of crisis began to arrive due to the domination of the brands over a large part of the market, causing a significant drop in the sales of Fenicia.

To make the situation worst, in 1990 the Gulf War led most industries to turn to “toll manufacturing” production. This situation led to the layoff of 200 employees by shutting down a production line.

2000s

At the dawn of the new millennium, the third generation of the Candido family took over and attempted to relaunch the company. In 2001 the company decided to enter the market directly through its own line: thus the first chain of stores under the Feni Uomo sign was born, offering consumers a total made in Italy look. Subsequently, in 2004 Fenicia launched Camicissima, a chain of stores dedicated exclusively to men.

Camicissima Milano

The intent is to aim for a more niche market, with a specific focus on shirts. The shop, which later became a brand, is based on the concept of “low cost quality” (high quality and low price) capable of satisfying the needs of most consumers.

This strategy is implemented thanks to a strategic pricing policy based on the purchase of multiple pieces. In addition, Camicissima creates clothing and accessories for people’s everyday life. It offers a casual but sophisticated, lively and dynamic style, but at the same time classic and trendy.

Camicissima shop

Third generation

With Fabio and Sergio Candido, the third generation, Fenicia moved its headquarters to Milan and in 2009, it opened a store in Manhattan. The company aims for international expansion with over 130 stores in Italy, 200 in China and over 40 stores in the rest of the world including the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Switzerland, Japan, Turkey, Iran, Venezuela and Israel. To strengthen its presence in China, in 2014 it signed a distribution agreement with the Chinese group Baoxiniao. 

Sergio and Fabio Candido

In 2016 Camicissima became part of the Elite program of Borsa Italiana: an international platform of integrated services created to support companies in the realization of their growth projects. A growth that recorded a turnover of over 52 million euros in 2019, 7.5% more than in 2018, of which 20% due to export. In 2018, the production expanded with the line dedicated to women. The garments recall the world of shirting fabrics revisited in a feminine key. Shirts, blouses, dresses and trousers are produced with quality and comfortable fabrics such as linen, cotton and viscose.

Blouse woman

With Camicissima the international expansion continued and in 2020, Fenicia Spa signed an agreement with LiLu Showroom for the distribution of the brand on the Russian market. In 2021 the group acquired Nara Camicie, brand owned by Passaggio Obbligato Spa, which belongs to the Annaratone and Gaggino families, as well as the designer Mario Pellegrino. The acquisition aims at creating a holding of leading brands in the men’s and women’s shirts segment, in Italy and abroad.

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