Mercedes Moltó, the visionary founder of the renowned children’s fashion brand Tutto Piccolo Group, was celebrated for her remarkable professional trajectory and entrepreneurial spirit with the ‘Dona de l’Any 2010’ award. This prestigious accolade recognizes not only her successful career but also her indomitable fighting spirit and her significant contribution to promoting the town of Alcoy on a global scale.
Moltó’s journey into the world of fashion began unconventionally. At the age of 19, she made the decision to leave school and marry Desiderio Mataix, a businessman in the textile industry. Life took an unexpected turn when Mataix SA, her husband’s company, faced closure. This pivotal moment forced the couple to reassess their future and explore new avenues. During this period of transition, while her husband contemplated new business ventures, Mercedes Moltó, then known as Merche, identified a gap in the market. Recognizing the growing demand for children’s sportswear, she conceived the idea of fashionable tracksuits for children.
Drawing upon her basic knowledge of pattern making acquired in school, Merche Moltó designed her initial collection of three tracksuit models. She presented these designs to a shopping center in Valencia, but they were initially rejected. However, her persistence paid off when a boutique in Valencia placed the first order. This initial success acted as a catalyst, and soon, an order arrived from Bilbao for three hundred tracksuits in various sizes, marking a significant step forward for her nascent business.
“It was in 1978 that Tutto Piccolo truly began its journey,” recalls Mercedes Moltó. In the early days of the company, she channeled her creative energy into design and pattern making, while her husband took charge of the firm’s management. She was also responsible for choosing the company name, “Tutto Piccolo.” Moltó has mentioned that the prevalence of Italian products at the time inspired her to adopt an Italian name for her brand. This strategic decision resonated well with the market, and the company later expanded to include the brands Cri-Cri and Agatha Ruiz de la Prada Baby, further solidifying its position in the children’s fashion sector.
The selection of Mercedes Moltó as the recipient of the ‘Dona de l’Any 2010’ award was made by a distinguished jury composed of seven women representing the diverse facets of Alcoy society. These jury members were carefully chosen by the newspaper Ciudad to ensure a representative and thoughtful selection process for the prestigious annual award.
Mercedes Moltó was formally presented with the ‘Dona de l’Any 2010’ award at a special event hosted by Ciudad on March 9th at the Teatro Calderón. Adding a unique touch to the recognition, the award itself was a bespoke piece designed by Daniel Rodriguez, a talented student from the Escola d’Art who won a dedicated competition. This original design was then expertly crafted into a wooden statue by the artisan German Payà Peidro, making the award a symbol of both artistic talent and local craftsmanship.
