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Italian billionaire Cuccinelli, who dresses Zuckerberg, asks grandchildren to stay away from wealth
The hero of today’s article is Brunello Cuccinelli. The “King of Cashmere,” a billionaire philosopher and philanthropist hailing from a poor peasant family, dresses Bezos and Zuckerberg and considers human dignity to be the main principle of his brand.
GettyImages Brunello Cuccinelli In Ilf and Petrov’s novel The Golden Calf, the great combinator sends a pamphlet to the millionaire Koreiko, which begins with a quote: “All the great modern fortunes are acquired in the most dishonest way.” Since then, of course, a lot has changed. But most of the leaders of the Forbes list have quite similar biographies: wealthy parents, a prestigious university, then an IT startup or wholesale trade.
GettyImages And if there's a billionaire who absolutely doesn't fit into that scheme, it's certainly Brunello Cuccinelli. Born in 1953 in a small Italian village, the boy from childhood had to combine school with work on his father’s farm.
The family was poor. There was no electricity or running water in the house. To improve the situation, the mother sewed at home, and the father had to get a job in a cement factory. "I saw how hard work can be and how humiliating," Brunello recalls. That's when he promised himself that he would do everything possible to ensure that no one was humiliated at work like his father.
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A post shared by Brunello Cucinelli (@brunellocucinelli)
After school, Cucinelli entered the engineering school. But two years later I realized that he was more interested in philosophy and fashion. At the same time, he became interested in clothes made of high-quality and durable cashmere. On a loan of $ 500, the young man opened a shop in which he began to paint boring and conservative cashmere in all the colors of the rainbow.
The first year of work brought the future “king of cashmere” 53 orders for the manufacture of sweaters. The money to pay off the masters simply did not exist. And the aspiring businessman promised to pay for their work later. However, the bet on bright casual sweaters worked, and 20 years later the campaign was already selling 200,000 sweaters annually.
It’s hard to believe, but in our age of soulless corporations, Cuccinelli has succeeded ($1.4 billion according to Forbes), making dignity, ethics and morality his basic principles.
“Eternal values – beauty, truth, humanity – should become our landmarks,” the fashion philosopher said in an interview. For example, employees are not allowed to send emails to colleagues after 17 hours. After all, proper rest and time spent with the family are very important.
“If people get a good rest and have a good time with their family, they are much more creative about their morning hours,” Brunello said.
The decision to work with the fabric of mountain goats wool came to Cuccinelli for a reason: I chose cashmere because I wanted to create something that can be inherited. Your children will keep it, and it will bring joy.”
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A post shared by Brunello Cucinelli (@brunellocucinelli)
The designer knows everything about cashmere. His factory uses only a 14.5 micron fiber-thick material that Brunello personally travels to Tibet twice a year.
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A post shared by Brunello Cucinelli (@brunellocucinelli_brand)
Thanks to this, things from Brunello Cucinelli are very light, but are durable and never stretched.
Office and factory in the castle of the XIV century In the 80s, Cuccinelli moved to the ancient town of Solomeo, where his wife Federica was born. Here he bought and restored the castle of the XIV century, which later moved the factory and the office of the company. He built a theater, stadium, library and a park with sculptures of famous philosophers.
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A post shared by Brunello Cucinelli (@brunellocucinelli)
For more than 40 years, the businessman has been reviving these previously decayed places, building roads, restoring old buildings. Thanks to his investments, olive oil and wine production resumed in the region.
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A post shared by Brunello Cucinelli (@brunellocucinelli)
“Solomeo is a true example of the right transformation: the outskirts of the town are cozy and picturesque, and the previously deserted quarters are now full of life and harmoniously fit into the surrounding landscape,” Brunello tells reporters.
Each year, Cuccinelli spends on charitable purposes up to 20% of the profits of his brand. Unsold because of the pandemic, he donates to the needy.
Buyers are also indirectly involved. Mark Zuckerberg, for example. Facebook founder’s monochromatic gray T-shirts aren’t as simple and cost $300. And sew them, as you guessed it, at the enterprises of the fashion house Cucinelli.
"If you buy a sweater worth more than a thousand euros, it's nicer to know that the money will go to build a school or a hospital, isn't it?" says Cuccinelli.
In conclusion, I want to share the thoughts that Brunello Cuccinelli expressed in a letter to his children and grandchildren. “My dear ones, in this letter you will find an important yet quiet call to recognize the absolute value of human dignity and respect with which we must treat every human being without exception.
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A post shared by Brunello Cucinelli (@brunellocucinelli)
You will learn that desires are just only when they are correlated with necessary needs. You will learn how to stay away from any wealth that is unearned or gained fairly. And what Wealth in itself means nothing unless it is meant for others.?
Photo in article and preview
GettyImages Brunello Cuccinelli In Ilf and Petrov’s novel The Golden Calf, the great combinator sends a pamphlet to the millionaire Koreiko, which begins with a quote: “All the great modern fortunes are acquired in the most dishonest way.” Since then, of course, a lot has changed. But most of the leaders of the Forbes list have quite similar biographies: wealthy parents, a prestigious university, then an IT startup or wholesale trade.
GettyImages And if there's a billionaire who absolutely doesn't fit into that scheme, it's certainly Brunello Cuccinelli. Born in 1953 in a small Italian village, the boy from childhood had to combine school with work on his father’s farm.
The family was poor. There was no electricity or running water in the house. To improve the situation, the mother sewed at home, and the father had to get a job in a cement factory. "I saw how hard work can be and how humiliating," Brunello recalls. That's when he promised himself that he would do everything possible to ensure that no one was humiliated at work like his father.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Brunello Cucinelli (@brunellocucinelli)
After school, Cucinelli entered the engineering school. But two years later I realized that he was more interested in philosophy and fashion. At the same time, he became interested in clothes made of high-quality and durable cashmere. On a loan of $ 500, the young man opened a shop in which he began to paint boring and conservative cashmere in all the colors of the rainbow.
The first year of work brought the future “king of cashmere” 53 orders for the manufacture of sweaters. The money to pay off the masters simply did not exist. And the aspiring businessman promised to pay for their work later. However, the bet on bright casual sweaters worked, and 20 years later the campaign was already selling 200,000 sweaters annually.
It’s hard to believe, but in our age of soulless corporations, Cuccinelli has succeeded ($1.4 billion according to Forbes), making dignity, ethics and morality his basic principles.
“Eternal values – beauty, truth, humanity – should become our landmarks,” the fashion philosopher said in an interview. For example, employees are not allowed to send emails to colleagues after 17 hours. After all, proper rest and time spent with the family are very important.
“If people get a good rest and have a good time with their family, they are much more creative about their morning hours,” Brunello said.
The decision to work with the fabric of mountain goats wool came to Cuccinelli for a reason: I chose cashmere because I wanted to create something that can be inherited. Your children will keep it, and it will bring joy.”
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Brunello Cucinelli (@brunellocucinelli)
The designer knows everything about cashmere. His factory uses only a 14.5 micron fiber-thick material that Brunello personally travels to Tibet twice a year.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Brunello Cucinelli (@brunellocucinelli_brand)
Thanks to this, things from Brunello Cucinelli are very light, but are durable and never stretched.
Office and factory in the castle of the XIV century In the 80s, Cuccinelli moved to the ancient town of Solomeo, where his wife Federica was born. Here he bought and restored the castle of the XIV century, which later moved the factory and the office of the company. He built a theater, stadium, library and a park with sculptures of famous philosophers.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Brunello Cucinelli (@brunellocucinelli)
For more than 40 years, the businessman has been reviving these previously decayed places, building roads, restoring old buildings. Thanks to his investments, olive oil and wine production resumed in the region.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Brunello Cucinelli (@brunellocucinelli)
“Solomeo is a true example of the right transformation: the outskirts of the town are cozy and picturesque, and the previously deserted quarters are now full of life and harmoniously fit into the surrounding landscape,” Brunello tells reporters.
Each year, Cuccinelli spends on charitable purposes up to 20% of the profits of his brand. Unsold because of the pandemic, he donates to the needy.
Buyers are also indirectly involved. Mark Zuckerberg, for example. Facebook founder’s monochromatic gray T-shirts aren’t as simple and cost $300. And sew them, as you guessed it, at the enterprises of the fashion house Cucinelli.
"If you buy a sweater worth more than a thousand euros, it's nicer to know that the money will go to build a school or a hospital, isn't it?" says Cuccinelli.
In conclusion, I want to share the thoughts that Brunello Cuccinelli expressed in a letter to his children and grandchildren. “My dear ones, in this letter you will find an important yet quiet call to recognize the absolute value of human dignity and respect with which we must treat every human being without exception.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Brunello Cucinelli (@brunellocucinelli)
You will learn that desires are just only when they are correlated with necessary needs. You will learn how to stay away from any wealth that is unearned or gained fairly. And what Wealth in itself means nothing unless it is meant for others.?
Photo in article and preview
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