Intra: Hat Factory Albertini

In 1817, from the little town of Maccagno, on the east bound of Lake Maggiore, Gaetano Albertini moves to intra to open his first small hat store. In 1852, Antonio, Gaetano’ son has already 20 workers, helping him to create beautiful and unique hats.

His brother Luigi, after the Italian unification, moves to France but in 1862 he returns back to Italy where he starts working with his brothers Isidoro, Gaetano and Achille, using French machines as the mechanic arcon, the batisseuse and other new technologies.

The business grows a lot and in 1864 the factory has already 39 workers .

In 1875, after Luigi’s death, the hat factory is managed by Enrico and Isidoro, both Antonio’ sons.

The factory has to suspend its activities for some debts issue, but reopen in 1899 directed by Enrico Jr.

From 1900 there is a boom of production due to the “velours” hats, exported as well in England. But in 1903, because of the introduction of new machineries, the workers organize a strike. The management has to hire temporary workers and so it starts a positive time for the industry.