MELBOURNE: The recently established division of wool branding specialist The Merino Company (TMC), has introduced a splash of European style to the southern hemisphere.
Wholesaling and stock service business Pronto Moda – created in partnership with TMC in April – has acquired the rights to wholesale Italian men’s and women’s brand Malagrida. Founded in 1960 and owned and operated by the Malagrida family in the town of Tolentino, the brand was still designed and manufactured in Italy, confirmed Pronto Moda sales and marketing manager Megan Travers.
“Malagrida is a contemporary fashion range; its point of difference lies in its yarns, design, palette, reputation for meeting customer demand for new trends, innovative approach to production techniques and continual attention to quality and pricing,” she claimed.
With retail price points averaging around $190 the collection would offer around 180 SKUs each of men’s and women’s knitwear, targeting high-end retailers, she added.
“Malagrida will give [retailers] product that is distinctly European in branding and design and can provide newness to their existing product mix.”
The label was an apt embodiment of Pronto Moda’s service offer, she added.
“Pronto Moda enables fashion retailers to be truly reactive to the wishes of their customers by providing variety, flexibility, responsiveness and the ability to replenish stock easily and quickly.”
According to TMC COO Mark Mackinnon Pronto Moda’s strategy was to develop trans-seasonal garments and achieve customised volume and reliable quality at the right price. Key relationships with growers and reliable manufactures meant the company could work with a diverse range of clients, he added.
“Pronto Moda is a great extension of TMC’s business – starting with specially selected wool from some of the world’s leading wool growers and taking this right through to a new stock service offering high quality fashion garments and a new level of service.”
Pronto Moda is TMC’s latest venture in the Australian market, following the launch of merino-based brand Driza Bone Activ in February 2006. TMC itself was launched in 2005 by family wool business Lempriere to work with merino wool growers around the world, marketing their wool to leading fashion retailers and brands.