The Archive occupies a total area of ​​over 1,200 square meters, with an area serving exclusively as warehouse and storage, and another – which houses all the company documentation – reserved for research and consultation activities, from which two main thematic strands emerge: product and communication.
Among the most interesting elements that emerge from the product area’s collection, the historic knitwear items take pride of place. The collection also contains fabric sheets, sketches, paper layouts from the late Seventies to today, a collection of knitting stitches, historic fashion magazines, technical sheets, color palettes from the Seventies and Eighties, an archive of yarns, color references and yarns currently in use.
In terms of the communication area, the collection includes a vast selection of fashion editorials, catalogues, advertisements, commercials, posters, window signs, periodicals and photographic material – from the mid-1960s to today.
There are also precious design materials from company properties (shops, factories and company offices).
The Archive also houses some historic machines (including the first dyeing vats and the first looms) that testify to Benetton’s constant technological evolution.
In addition to the Benetton Archive space, there is also a 2,000 sqm exhibition area that hosts a selection of images from advertising campaigns – spanning the history of the company’s communication from the 1960s to today – and 16 Formula 1 cars that testify to the 19 years of Benetton Group’s presence – from 1983 to 2001 – in the world’s top automobile championship.