Creativity comes to life
Twenty years 1920 - 1940
In 1920 a group of nobles founded the Fabbrica Italiana
Lapis Affini in Florence: a fleur-de-lys
as an emblem, offices in a sixteenth century building.
In 1923, FILA invents colours, puts them in a cardboard box
creating Giotto, the Italian coloured pencil.
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To work with the right tools
Twenty years 1941 - 1960
The war slowed production and even FILA made sacrifices,
replacing the noble California Cedar, used for its even and
parallel fibres, with Bergamo linden wood.
In 1956 the Candela family joined FILA, the company moved to Milan
to Corso Sempione 127 and regained market shares with a
winning strategy based on continuous technology,
product and tool innovation: from the collection of the
legendary bookmarks that thrilled generations of
school kids to the geometry textbook.
The FILA revolution continued in 1959 with the ballpoint
pen and practical Lyretta, produced in
association with Lyra Italy, then the leader who later joined the
FILA family.
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Economic boom and new goals
Twenty years 1961 - 1980
The market becomes increasingly more demanding and FILA meets
demand head on: plastic sector production was launched in the Milan
factory giving rise to Giotto Fibra, the
forefather of coloured fibre pens.
FILA entered ateliers with the Tiziano line and
its coloured, watercolour and drawing pencils Along with quality
products, FILA brings creativity to schools with a multitude of
popular initiatives promoting expressive
education, contests and educational exhibits, update
supplies and seminars on art education. New success hits in 1973:
in association with Design Group Italia and TBWA, Tratto
Pen is introduced winning the Compasso
d'Oro prize in 1979 for design originality and
functionality.
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The future begins
Twenty years 1981 - 2009
After the revolutionary Tratto, ballpoint and
roller pens, highlighters, markers, correction pens and automatic
pencils are introduced. The line expands with a wide range of
products, designed by FILA to guarantee soft, accurate, smooth and
constant writing in any situation.
FILA invents new colours with the new Giotto
Turbo series and, in 1994, penetrates the
modelling dough market by purchasing Adica Pongo:
three-dimensional expressive possibilities for all ages with Das,
Didò and Pongo.
In 2000, it purchased the French Omyacolor to become the European
modelling dough leader and world chalk leader.
FILA's inventive spirit is confirmed in 2004 with the introduction
of Giotto Be-bè, the exclusive and safe line for
young children, and strengthens its support for social and cultural
efforts. In 2005 it purchased the American sector leader
Dixon Ticonderoga Prang and, in full expansion,
writes a new winning chapter for the near future in 2008: it
purchased the legendary German company Lyra, ready
to penetrate new markets and win over great young talents.
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