Diego Della Valle underlines the importance of businesses playing a social role

Andrea and Diego Della Valle have been awarded honorary citizenship by the town of Arquata del Tronto. This recognition was given to the entrepreneurs from the region of Marche for their significant contributions to the community following the 2016 earthquake that severely impacted the Ascoli Piceno area, especially its interior regions. «I asked the mayor how we could help. He replied: by creating job opportunities», Diego Della Valle emotionally recalls in an interview with MFF.

In the year following the earthquake, the Della Valle brothers responded to the mayor’s request by financing the construction of a new Tod’s factory, which was inaugurated in December 2017 in the presence of then-regional president Ceriscioli and Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni. The 2,000-square-meter site for shoe production represented an investment of approximately 10 million euros and nearly a year of work. The idea to award the Della Valle brothers with this recognition was proposed by the late mayor Aleandro Petrucci, who remarked: «I decided to grant honorary citizenship to the Della Valle brothers because they not only trained but also employed many people. Their family was the only one to take such significant and concrete action».

What does this recognition mean to you?

It is a profound emotion for both me and my brother Andrea. We never forget the importance of our region. Being here today is important, especially because we are here not as guests but as friends.

Is the Arquata factory fully operational?

We are waiting for the land reclamation to be completed to finish the project. Ideally, we aim to employ 200 artisans in a 2,000-square-meter space. Currently, we have 80 artisans working.

From the Colosseum to Arquata, what vision guides these activities?

These actions are part of the many initiatives that the Tod’s Group has undertaken for over 30 years to materialize the core values of solidarity and social commitment, transforming them into a common heritage.

How much do you invest in these social activities?

Even when we were a publicly traded company, we decided to allocate 1% of our net profit to support initiatives for the most vulnerable segments of the community.

What is your relationship with public institutions?

Italy’s leadership in culture and art is undisputed and cannot be taken away by anyone. I believe the public and private sectors must find common ground and be ready to cooperate. Many of my friends and fellow entrepreneurs are already highly active. Working with public institutions is easier than is often believed. It is worth the effort.

What other projects are you supporting?

Beyond the restoration of Palazzo Marino in Milan and our support for the Italian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, we are involved in numerous initiatives. We provide food aid to 30,000 people and have been supporting families in need since 2013. Since 2016, we have been running a training and employment project at San Patrignano. Being accustomed to fashion industry budgets, we have seen how many people can be helped with relatively modest sums.

Regarding the territory, are you involved in training?

Our Bottega dei Mestieri was founded in 2012 as a corporate academy and training center for the Tod’s Group, with the aim of developing technical skills. The primary goal of the academy is to encourage young people to pursue careers in artisan crafts. Currently, we are supporting the Higher Technical Institute (ITS) in Fermo. This initiative is part of a broader project with the President of the region of Marche, which we hope to expand across Italy.

Have you already discussed this with Minister Urso?

I mentioned it to him on a Sunday. We will continue to work on it. (All rights reserved)