In 1964 Francesco Ferraris was 38 years old, with a career built in the great wool mills of Biella, most recently at Lanificio Rivetti, where from 1953 he headed the finishing department. When Rivetti decided to close down that part of its business, Francesco did not simply look for another job. He realised there was an opening for something that did not yet exist: an independent finishing operation, able to work for third parties with the same quality and care that, until then, could only be found inside the large wool mills.

He opened his first plant in Gaglianico, on the outskirts of Biella, and so Finissaggio e Tintoria Ferraris was born.
At his side was his wife, Magda. In those years the family grew: first came Franco, then the three twins Giuseppe, Stefano and Augusto. The company grew alongside the children, and the children would grow up inside the company.

In the late 1980s came the first major expansion: the acquisition of the Benna dye works, specialising in the treatment of yarns and tops. This was both an expansion of production capacity and a deliberate choice to oversee two complementary stages of the supply chain, with distinct expertise and dedicated plants.

Franco, Stefano and Giuseppe gradually took on management roles: the former with executive responsibilities, while Stefano and Giuseppe both became Managing Directors, one heading the Benna plant and the administrative side, the other heading Gaglianico and acting as technical manager.
Augusto took a different path, establishing himself as a textile designer.