In 1885, Giuseppe Saccardo was the first in Italy to start the production of paper bobbins and wooden shuttles for weaving, aware of how much the textile sector relied at the time on foreign technology. The first headquarters of the company was located in the historical center of Schio, on Via Nova (now Via Battaglione Val Leogra), and a few years later it moved to a premises across from the previous one. However, in 1892, a fire spreading from a neighboring building destroyed the factory. The plant was relocated to the hilly area towards the Altopiano del Tretto, at the entrance of Val dell’Orco, which with its water could provide power to the machines. The hilly area above ensured labor and timber. The buildings with two rising chimneys are characterized by the modular sequence of gabled roofs that overlook façades marked by the rhythmic succession of simple or paired and circular windows in the attics. The Saccardo products, due to their quality and perfection, quickly became competitive with those of the most famous and important French, Swiss, and English companies: the workshop was gradually expanded and equipped with new water power with a capacity of about 200 horsepower that supported every further development. In 1905, Saccardo transformed into a Joint Stock Company and started the construction of a new plant in Novara. The Saccardo industry paid particular attention to advertising by commissioning some visually impactful advertising posters from Fortunato Depero. New technologies in the textile field and the unfavorable economic situation led to the abandonment of the factories in the sixties, with the remaining activity being transferred to a new settlement. Since 1991, following renovation and adaptation works of the disused buildings, the Consorzio Progresso was created, giving rise to several new artisan workshops, professional and artistic studios. The central body of the building, internally restored, is a multifunctional space for events, exhibitions, and workshops.
Photo: archive of the Municipality of Schio.
