The city of Prato in Tuscany, near Florence, has nearly 200,000 inhabitants and is one of Europe’s leading centres of textile production. Its development spans from early wool manufacturing to becoming a hub for textile recycling. Prato stands as an example of industrial transformation and demonstrates how traditional production methods can adapt and remain resilient within a changing global economy.

Prato began specialising in wool production as early as the Middle Ages, benefiting from its strategic location and the natural resources of the surrounding landscape. By the 19th century, the city focused on textile recycling. Pre- and post-consumer textiles were manually sorted by skilled workers known as cenciaioli. Their ability to identify fibre composition solely by touch required years of experience and played a crucial role in determining the quality of recycled materials until today. After mechanical processing using tearing rollers, followed by spinning, produces recycled yarns characterised by durability, elasticity, and strength.