Diesel Men

Rome wasn't built in a day. And neither was the empire built by Renzo Rosso. However, his success story was pretty remarkable. After starting to make his first pairs of jeans (by hand) and sell them when he was just a teen, this son of a farmer graduated from the Instituto Marconi in Padua and took his first professional steps in the 1970s, joining the Moltex Group owned by Adriano Goldschmied. Specialised in jeans, the company was among the most important in its sector in Italy. At just 23 years-old and thanks to a loan of 4,000 euros from his father, he invested in the company and became an owner with a 40% stake. A few years later in 1978, the duo renamed the brand Diesel, in reference to the weight given to the new alternative fuel. Eyebrows were raised, and there was much questioning, but the duo was confident: Facing Lee Cooper and Levi's, there was place for a new reference in denim, midway between relaxed and refined. In 1985, Renzo bought the remaining parts of the company and became the sole owner of the brand. Initially offering only jeans, the brand slowly transformed to become a textile giant with collections including t-shirts, shoes, accessories and perfumes. And rather than quitting while he was ahead, Renzo began acquiring other major brands and creative labels in the 2000s. In 2008, he founded the group OTB (Only the Brave), which includes major stakes in Maison Margiela, Marni, and Viktor and Rolf. That's how you build a textile empire. One stitch at a time.