This Action Extra Lab will take place at Beste S.p.A.’s headquarters, located in the historic textile district of Prato. Beste S.p.A., founded in 1992 is a vertically integrated company operating in the textile and fashion industry. Originally a traditional fabric producer, Beste has undergone a significant strategic transformation, evolving into a fully integrated player that manages the entire production cycle — from yarn development to finished garments — for high-end and luxury fashion brands. The company is structured into three core divisions: yarns, fabrics, and garments.

Sustainability and innovation are central to Beste’s competitive positioning. The company adopts environmentally responsible practices across its value chain, including the use of organic materials and renewable energy sources. In 2021, Beste launched the Beste HUB, an advanced garment development and production facility located in Prato. The HUB serves as a center for innovation, collaborative design, and community engagement, and supports knowledge transfer through partnerships with educational and accademic institutions. Since joining the HModa Group in 2023, Beste has further strengthened its strategic capabilities and positioning within the broader textile and apparel ecosystem, reinforcing its identity as a forward-looking, sustainability-driven enterprise rooted in Italian manufacturing excellence.

The aim of this Action Extra Lab is to provide participants with a structured overview of an advanced model of vertical integration in the textile and fashion industry. The visit is designed to allow direct observation of:

• The full production cycle, including fabric research, dyeing, finishing, prototyping, and garment manufacturing;
• Sustainability practices, with a focus on resource efficiency, organic materials, renewable energy use, and waste valorization;
• Organizational processes that reflect a balance between industrial tradition and innovation in operations and product development;
• Traceability and transparency tools integrated within production and quality management systems.

This Action Extra Lab is particularly relevant for scholars and researchers interested in industrial transformation, sustainability-oriented innovation, operations strategy, and supply chain governance.

Program of this Extra Lab:

• 2.00 PM: Departure from the campus by bus (transportation provided)
• 3.00 PM: Arrival at Beste and visit the company. Participants follow a guided tour through Beste’s production facilities, observing each phase of the textile and garment manufacturing process — from fabric design and development to finishing and quality control
• Open discussion: The visit also provides an opportunity to meet with entrepreneurs from the local Prato business community, enabling informal discussion around the ongoing transformations within the textile and fashion industries — including issues of sustainability, reshoring, digitalization, and supply chain reconfiguration.
• 5.30 PM: Bus transfer back to the campus