Rosso: «Fashion to take action for Ukraine»

«I remember the Dalai Lama once said to me, everything good you do, show it so others can follow you». Well, fashion with its visibility can create a domino effect for solidarity». Word of Renzo Rosso reached by MFF while the first one of the buses sent to the Ukrainian border by his Otb foundation, working on dozens of charitable initiatives, returned to Italy with the first refugees to be received.

At least 1.5 million people, since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, have already left their homes in search of refuge in other countries. According to data released by the Ministry of the interior, more than 15,000 Ukrainian citizens have arrived in Italy, including about 8,000 women and almost 6,000 minors. Fashion mobilized quickly and Cnmi is moving forward with a series of activities. The entrepreneur's first thought now is the heartfelt wish for a ceasefire. «May weapons be silenced. Russia absorbs 1.5% of our exports, but the government should help companies on the expensive energy cost front», he stated while rolling up his sleeves.

Just as it did for the Covid-19 emergency, OTB Foundation started even before CNMI launched its initiative for UNHCR. What kind of help are you giving?

Right now, we are bringing women and children home. We sent four buses full of pharmaceutical material, anticoagulant, blankets, basic necessities. The first bus already returned with 50 people on board who have been welcomed in our vaccination center in Bassano del Grappa. In Ukraine, only 30% of the population is vaccinated against Covid-19, so at least we can make them safe. We also booked a 40-room hotel and hired staff to accommodate the refugees.

From Prada to Armani, from Valentino to Moncler, fashion has mobilized. What can fashion companies do now to help?

I remember the Dalai Lama once said to me, «Everything good you do, show it so others can follow you». Well, fashion is beautiful because it gives so much visibility, like characters and celebrities. Everything that people with visibility do creates unity, compactness. I did not think there could be a war in our time, I thought something like this could never happen again.

So, fashion can contribute by providing visibility and funding?

Donations help, of course. But you have to go to institutions that have concrete projects and do not calculate administrative expenses on the funds received. During Covid-19, a lot of money was lost in order to build structures that were then not realized. Otb Foundation is famous precisely for the absence of administrative costs and everything we receive we put at the service of the various missions.

Did you activate tables with Cnmi and Confindustria to deal with the emergency?

We are working, together with Cnmi, to try to hire these people with a fixed-term contract, at least for six months and hopefully renewable for another six. This could already help. But it is difficult to hire them because the men are at war and the women have to take care of children who would otherwise be on their own.

To deal with Covid-19, technical instruments were needed rather than funding. What about this crisis? Are reception facilities needed?

Families available to host are needed. Particularly children who are alone. We are working on this with Otb Foundation. A part of the people arriving will be hosted in a residence I have just finished renovating, but reception is crucial now. Everyone's help is needed. We are bringing 100 orphaned children to Italy. I do not know how this will end. Everyone's help is needed.

During these first 15 days of war, have you already changed the way to provide aid?

At the beginning we immediately gave aid to Unhcr, through financing and medical materials. Now we are helping people by working with two associations, Csv Vicenza and Il ponte mict Onlus, the latter being specialized in working with Ukraine. We have brought these people to Italy through them, amidst difficulties I will not tell you about. For example, there was a four-year-old child who had arrived without his parents. In this case fostering is necessary. We are working directly with the prefectures of Vicenza, Padua and Venice as well as with the municipalities.

Are you working with the government and the institutions?

It seems that refugees should receive funding by the government. We are working for that, but each municipality has its own rules. Therefore, we have to start the various processes between municipalities and prefectures. Moreover, these people do not have documents. We are doing a tremendous job with our volunteers. But it is clear that help is needed. Arianna Alessi, the Vice President of Otb Foundation, is in Rome to find solutions with Elena Bonetti, the Minister for family and equal opportunities. Psychologists are needed as well to help these people.

What are the future scenarios that you see? Do you think that the war will continue for a long time?

We wish that an agreement is achieved and all of this can end. I hope that weapons will stop as soon as possible. Everything can only get worse as long as the incursions are taking place. Now there are almost 100 children arriving, who must be fostered. It would be much better if, at the beginning, reception facilities could welcome them. For example, we are already financing Piccolo principe Onlus in Milan, that is going to take them in, along with various other facilities.

We overcame the pandemic and now there is a catastrophic scenario that no one would have ever expected. Is this going to be another tough year in terms of economy?

Russia ultimately accounts for 1.5% of exports from Italy. It has a relative importance. The major problem is the increase cost in commodities and energy. Companies cannot sustain these costs and many could close down under these conditions. Commodities should return to acceptable and sustainable costs for companies. (All rights reserved)