Future king
Brunello Cucinelli was born in 1953 in the tiny mountain village of Castellrigone in the province of Perugia. The family was not rich, there was no such luxury as a radio or TV in the house. As a schoolboy, Brunello worked part-time on his parent's farm. In the early 70s, he graduated from high school and entered the university, but after three years he dropped out. Kucinelli was attracted by another industry - fashion.
In 1978 he bought out a small knitwear factory and introduced the first cashmere jumpers in bright colors. Fashionable girls at that time hardly bought cashmere models. The material was considered expensive, and, as a rule, classic black, gray and beige things were created from it for serious Italian seniors and their husbands. But Cucinelli - a genius self-taught - hit the nail on the head with his bright casual sweaters.
Special cashmere
“I chose cashmere because I wanted to create a thing that can be inherited. Your children will keep it, and it will bring joy,”- said in an interview with Cucinelli.
Brunello Cucinelli with his family
To create cashmere, the Brunello Cucinelli factory uses down from the undercoat of cashmere goats that live in China, Tibet and the Gobi Desert. They say that Brunello personally travels twice a year to check and buy raw materials for his factory.
The main feature of the obtained cashmere thread is its thickness: 14.5 microns instead of the standard 16. For comparison, the thickness of a human hair is 50-70 microns.
The secret is simple
“Eternal values - beauty, truth, humanity - should become our guiding lines,” says the businessman-philosopher. Cucinelli has achieved tremendous business success by abandoning the soulless approach to doing business. Its principles are dignity, ethics and morality.
A family atmosphere reigns at the company's factory. Cucinelli believes that it is important to devote time to your soul, family and body. According to his behest, employees start their working day early and go home before dark. “We work in harmony with the natural rhythms of a person, creating comfortable conditions for both work and leisure. We take a break from the information noise that constantly surrounds us,”notes Brunello.
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The manufactory is equipped with the latest technology, but manual labor is still extremely important here. By the way, the products are tested in an interesting way: twice a year, an employee can choose any cashmere item from the trial release. He must actively wear it and be sure to wash it, and then give a detailed report on what he liked and what did not. This approach allows us to constantly improve the quality of clothing.
Favorite place
In the 80s, Cucinelli moved to an old dilapidated 14th century castle in the village of Solomeo, where he also moved his office and factory. The reason for such a global move is love. Brunello married Federica Benda, who was born in Solomeo. For 40 years, Cucinelli has been reviving this beautiful place and is not going to stop. The streets have been restored, old people gossip on benches by the church, and young people sit in cafes and chat merrily - life is in full swing.
“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. Locals continue the ancient traditions: once wheat, olive oil and wine were produced here, and today, in addition to these products, we produce cashmere,”the businessman says.
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Best award
Favorite designer Solomeo is growing before our eyes. Today, a theater, a wine cellar, a library and even a school of crafts have been built here, to which people from all over the world travel. There are many applicants, and to become a member of the Brunello Cucinelli family, you have to pass a high competition. Education is free and at the same time with a solid scholarship.
Although Cucinelli himself dropped out of the engineering faculty, he was always striving for knowledge. Philosophy and literature occupy a special place among his hobbies. Even on the main page of the site, Dostoevsky's phrase immediately pops up: "Beauty will save the world."
Brunello Cucinelli has received many Italian and foreign awards and prizes. For example, in 2003, at the annual American Best of the Best award, he was recognized as the “best creator of modern knitwear,” and the University of Perugia awarded the businessman an honorary doctorate in ethics and philosophy for his business principles, which he has repeatedly voiced.
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One of Cucinelli's latest big news is Solomeo, which he wrote for five years. It includes memories of childhood, adolescence and the first meeting with Solomeo: "This book, first of all, is my story about feelings and emotions."
He dedicated his work to youth, who, according to him, can preserve eternal values only by studying and correctly understanding history. “And who, if not young people, will take responsibility for the revival of the spirit - those young people to whom we are in debt to this day,” the author notes.>