Our History
1920-1943
1920
June 23. The Fabbrica Italiana Lapis ed Affini is founded in Florence. Count Giuseppe Della Gherardesca is the first president of the company. The painter Severo Pozzati, known as Sepo, designs the first logo inspired by the lily, the emblem of the city of Florence.
1921
The Tosca and Orion trademarks are registered for use on graphite pencils.
1922
This year marks the first price list in the historical archive of F.I.L.A. The first price lists and catalogs include over 100 products: graphite pencils (the most important lines are Orion and Selecta), copying pencils (3 lines in order of quality and price: Turandot, Tosca, and Fiorenza), stenographer pencils, colored pencils, carpenter or handbag pencils, and related products such as brass and nickel point protectors.
1925
The Giotto range of pastels enters the market, joining the already existing Tiziano and Raffaello lines; a few years later, the Leonardo line follows.
1928
F.I.L.A. organizes the first National School Drawing Competition in color and black and white.
1930
F.I.L.A. presents the first catalog of colors and painting materials, including Tiziano colors for artists.
1931
The Giotto range expands with 37 watercolor colors.
1933
The image depicting Giotto drawing on a stone in the presence of Master Cimabue is created (and registered). Since then, it has been present on all Giotto-branded products and is an iconic reference in the collective imagination.
1939
F.I.L.A. acquires SIR (Stabilimenti Italiani Riuniti) of Imola, whose main activity is the production of chalk.
1943
Renato Candela, future CEO of F.I.L.A., miraculously survives the bombing of the Presbitero factory on Via Farini in Milan, where he held the position of CEO and shareholder.
1944-1985
1944
Sepo’s drawing depicting a head with a pencil behind the ear, dating back to the early 1930s, is registered as a logo and will be used until 1974.
1949
F.I.L.A. patents the Pronostico pencil, with the symbols 1, X, and 2 at the top, and the Crossword pencil.
1956
After acquiring Lyra Italiana in 1953, Renato Candela becomes a shareholder of F.I.L.A.
1961
A highly successful line is the Tirone, a perfect pencil for stenography. F.I.L.A. produces the “felt-tip pens” Scrifix and Fibra-Fila for the first time, suitable for writing on ceramics.
1964
Alberto Candela joins his father Renato, who had been leading the company for 8 years.
1965
The Giotto range expands with the Giotto Feltro marker in 12 different colors.
1966
Lyra Fabbrica Italiana Matite SPA and Fabbrica Italiana Lapis ed Affini SPA are merged, with the former being incorporated into the latter. The administrative headquarters are moved from Florence to Milan, at Via Alberto Mario 65.
1971
Production of the Giotto Fibra marker with a synthetic tip and an assortment of 24 colors begins.
1973
In the new Limbiate (MI) plant, F.I.L.A. starts the production of cosmetic pencils. In the same year, the administrative headquarters are moved to Pero (MI), where another plant dedicated to molding and producing thumbtacks and ballpoint pens, including the famous Lyretta 23 and Sferetta 03, had been present since the previous decade.
1974
Giorgio Macchi designs the new logo, characterized by the stylized lily.
1975
The Tratto Pen, the first pen-marker, is launched on the market. It sells 4 million pieces in 4 days.
1979
The Tratto line, to which Tratto Clip was added in 1977, wins the Compasso d’Oro, the first and most prestigious industrial design award in the world, for design and functionality.
1985
The Giotto Turbo Color and Giotto Turbo Maxi marker ranges enter the market.
1986-2014
1986
The Tema line is born. In addition to the Tema Sfera, one of the most representative products is the Temagraph graphite pencil, defined as “the perfect pencil.” A product that will change appearance over the years, still in production today.
1991
Massimo Candela assumes the role of CEO of F.I.L.A., succeeding his father Alberto, who has since become Honorary President of the company.
1994
F.I.L.A. acquires the historic company Adica Pongo from Mondadori, founded in 1960 and owner of the Pongo, Didò, and DAS brands.
2000
In one year, the acquisition of the French company Omyacolor SA, the world’s leading producer of chalk for writing and coloring as well as an important French company in the field of drawing, coloring, and modeling products, and the acquisition of 50% of CLAC Ltda (Compañía de Lapices y Afines Chile), a Chilean joint venture specializing in the production of drawing articles, are completed.
2002
Giotto be-bè is born, the line of colors dedicated to children aged 2 to 5 that revolutionizes the market of creative tools for early childhood.
2005
The American Dixon Ticonderoga Company is acquired, also present in Canada, China, and Mexico, and owner of the historic Ticonderoga brand, an icon of graphite pencils for writing and drawing since 1913.
2008
F.I.L.A. acquires the German company LYRA. Founded in 1806 in Nuremberg, it is one of the oldest brands in the world. An absolute icon in the production of pencils famous for their excellence.
2010
The Mexican company Lapicera Mexicana, producer of pastels and pencils, the Brazilian company Lycin, for modeling and painting products, and a minority stake in the Indian Writefine Products Private (now DOMS Industries), of which the majority stake will be acquired in 2015, are acquired.
2011
On the occasion of the 150th Anniversary of the Unification of Italy, F.I.L.A. produces the Unita, the official pencil of the Italy 150 Committee.
2014
Industria Maimeri is established, a joint venture between F.I.L.A. and Maimeri, an Italian company active since 1923 in the production and trade of colors and accessories for fine arts.
2015-a oggi
2015
F.I.L.A. celebrates EXPO Milano 2015 by launching a limited collection of its most iconic brands – FILA, Giotto, Tratto, Didò.
2015
F.I.L.A. is listed on the Milan Stock Exchange, STAR segment. It marks the beginning of a new strategic approach and global growth.
2016
F.I.L.A. acquires the historic British group Daler Rowney Lukas, among the world’s key players in fine art & craft, St. Cuthberts Holding Limited, a historic English paper mill located in the southwest of England and active in the production of high-quality drawing paper for artistic purposes, and the French company Canson. Founded by Jacques Montgolfier in 1557, it is the most prestigious company in the world in the production and distribution of high-value papers for fine arts, school, and leisure.
2018
F.I.L.A. signs the purchase of 100% of the American group Pacon, one of the main operators in the educational and art & craft market, which includes among its brands the iconic Princeton and Strathmore.
2020
In March, the business unit specialized in the production of premium papers for artists and operating through the ARCHES® brand is acquired from the Ahlstrom-Munksjö Group.
2020
The Ministry of Economic Development issues an ordinary stamp dedicated to F.I.L.A., in the series “the Excellence of the productive and economic system.”
2023
F.I.L.A. successfully completes the listing process of its Indian subsidiary DOMS Industries Limited (“DOMS”) on the National Stock Exchange of India.