FLY 3
Nautical apparelHISTORY
1979 – FLY3 is founded – after gaining experience in his father’s company, Luciano Bilancioni, inspired by his passion for sailing, conceives a water-repellent, superwash and anti-pilling yarn. With the aid of expert knitters, he updates several handmade processes to create a unique sailor-style knitwear collection.
1981 – the range is enlarged – “Flytex,” the new waterproof and breathable fabric is introduced, while the typical approach based on quality, technicality and sobriety is applied to jackets, shirts, trousers and accessories.
1983 – I.W.S. Award – the Pure Virgin Wool Secretariat grants Fly3 the award for best manufacturer of superwash yarns: from this moment on, each Fly3 item – whether sweater, cap or shoe – becomes machine washable.
1985 – the ARCHETIPI line is launched – beside the continuous evolution of its products, some items remain unaltered and are thus named “Archetipi” (i.e. “archetypes”): the materials and handmade processes will remain unchanged until 2008.
1989 –“Fusion” is launched – after 10 years of very dry and water-repellent wool, constantly striving to achieve greater comfort, the company launches the combination of wool on the outside with cotton on the inside. This way will lead blending cashmere, cotton, bamboo and hemp. By dyeing the sweater, an unusual “Fusion” effect is achieved.
2007 – Weatherly – following several attempts over the years trying to lighten its sweaters maintaining the charme of the “Archetipi”, the company achieves, by introducing the HI-TEX technology, to reach Weatherly patent. The result is a sweater lightweight, reversible and seamless, with wool on one side, cotton on the other. A limited edition in cashmere and cotton follows the year after.
2009 – Hi-Tex Archetipi – owing to the continuous development of the HI-TEX technology, the company redesigns all of its “archetypes” making them lightweight, reversible and seamless.
By adopting the “for all seasons” concept, Fly3 now produces sweaters with SOFTLY, a fiber of cashmere, cotton and bamboo threads that boast excellent features: they are breathable, antibacterial, UV-resistant, extremely soft and bestow a relaxing feeling.
Ever sensitive to safeguarding the ecology, the company discards plastic from the outset in favor of natural materials for all packaging items as well, and adopts the slogan “LET’S SAVE THE SEA”.
The pay-offs “Fly to Italian Quality,” “perfection is achieved not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away” by Saint-Exupery and “over the years, as with sails, Fly3 sweaters become lighter, seamless, but above all, retain wool thread” offer the most appropriate description of Fly3’s 30-year long history.
