ROSSO, RENZO
COMPANIES AND ENTREPRENEURS , R
RENZO ROSSO, THE ENTREPRENEUR WHO BUILT AN EMPIRE STARTING FROM A PAIR OF JEANS
Renzo Rosso is an Italian entrepreneur, founder of the Diesel brand and of the OTB group, of which he is also the chairman. In 2013 he was defined as the “jeans genius” by the New York Times, in fact he built his empire starting from denim.
Renzo Rosso
Renzo Rosso was born in 1955 in Brugine, in Padua. He grew up in a family of farmers, but he soon showed his entrepreneurial spirit. At just 15 years of age he created his first pair of jeans with his mother’s sewing machine, a flared trouser that became popular among his classmates in his high school, an institute specializing in the training of technicians for the construction company. After graduating, he enrolled in the Faculty of Economics at Ca ‘Foscari in Venice, a path that he interrupted early to work as a production technician at Moltox, a company that produced trousers for various Italian brands. Here he met Adriano Goldschmied, head of the Genius Group, who became his mentor and business partner.
RENZO ROSSO AND DIESEL
After two years of work, in 1978, he founded Diesel with Goldschmied. In 1985, thanks to a loan of 7 million lire from his father, he assumed full control. The Diesel myth was born. In the 90s he landed in America and opened his first store in New York in 1996, in front of Levi’s.
Diesel Adv
OTB WAS BORN
In 2002 Renzo Rosso founded ‘Only the Brave’ (OTB), a group that controls major brands, besides Diesel also Marni, Maison Margiela, Viktor & Rolf, a share of Amiri and since 2021 also Jill Sander. Renzo Rosso also took care of the production and distribution under license of Dsquared, Marc Jacobs, Just Cavalli and Vivienne Westwood, with Staff International.
In 2021 Renzo Rosso, through his Red Circle Investments, entered the new holding Beyond Investment with 6%. With Beyond, Rosso entered the world of lingerie. The first operation carried out by the holding was in fact the acquisition of Adore Me, a rapidly growing lingerie brand.
RENZO ROSSO: NOT ONLY FASHION
The Diesel Farm rose in the hills of Marostica, a small biosphere in the hills born from Renzo Rosso’s passion for the rural world. Inside there is a vineyard that gives life to a niche production. The Diesel soul echoes in the packaging of high quality organic wine. His dream is to create a wine Atelier. But the interest in the food sector is also strengthened by the entry of Red Circle, Renzo Rosso’s investment company, into the Board of Directors of Cortilia, a leading food-tech company in online shopping with a short supply chain.
Diesel Farm
SPORT
Renzo Rosso is also the owner of L.R Vicenza, which has begun its rise since his arrival in 2018, arriving in Serie B in two years. Furthermore, his Diesel brand has been an official sponsor of AC Milan since 2016.
HUMANITARIAN COMMITMENT
Renzo Rosso founded the OTB Foundation in 2008. The organization invested in over 250 projects focused on innovation, direct social impact and sustainability. It fights against social inequalities and in favour of sustainable development in less favoured areas. The OTB Foundation was particularly active during the Covid19 pandemic, providing PPE, cutting-edge technological equipment and support for the conversion of hospital wards.
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ROSEBERRY, DANIEL
