Calzedonia
Oniverse · Italy
Calzedonia is an Italian brand of legwear, socks and swimwear founded in 1986 by Sandro Veronesi near Verona. It is the founding brand of Oniverse, the group formerly known as Calzedonia Group, which also owns Intimissimi, Tezenis and Falconeri and runs more than 5,700 single brand stores in 55 countries.
| Founded | 1986 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Sandro Veronesi |
| Parent | Oniverse (formerly Calzedonia Group) |
| Headquarters | Dossobuono di Villafranca di Verona, Italy |
| Group network | More than 5,700 stores in 55 countries (2025) |
| Website | calzedonia.com |
What is Calzedonia?
Calzedonia is an Italian brand specialising in legwear and beachwear. It sells tights, stockings, leggings and socks for women, men and children aged 2 to 12, together with swimwear and cover ups. It is the original brand of the group now called Oniverse, headquartered in Dossobuono di Villafranca di Verona.
History
Calzedonia was established in 1986 in Vallese di Oppeano, in the province of Verona, and officially launched in 1987. Its founder, Sandro Veronesi, had previously worked for the hosiery company Golden Lady. Franchising allowed rapid expansion in Italy and abroad, and the business grew into a multi brand group. Mediobanca data cited on Wikipedia show group revenue passing 1 billion euros by 2009 and 2 billion euros in 2016. On 4 December 2023 Calzedonia Group renamed itself Oniverse.
Products and positioning
Calzedonia sits in the accessible mid market and focuses on a narrow, specialist range rather than a full wardrobe:
- Tights, stockings and leggings
- Socks for women, men and children
- Women's and men's swimwear
- Beach cover ups and accessories
The brand runs a loyalty programme called Calzedonia Lover and a sustainability programme presented as Calzedonia4Tomorrow.
Business model and distribution
The group operates a network of single brand stores, a mix of directly operated shops and franchises, which totals more than 5,700 stores in 55 countries across all Oniverse brands as of 2025. Calzedonia also sells through national e-commerce sites, including a US operation run by Calzedonia USA in New York. Sister brands include Intimissimi, Tezenis, Falconeri and Atelier Emé, while the group also owns the Signorvino wine shops.
Why it matters
Calzedonia shows how a tightly focused product category, sold through dense single brand store networks, can become the base of one of Europe's largest privately owned fashion groups. Its franchise driven growth model has been widely studied in Italian retail.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Calzedonia?
Calzedonia belongs to Oniverse, the Italian group formerly called Calzedonia Group. Its founder Sandro Veronesi is chairman and majority shareholder.
Is Calzedonia Italian?
Yes. Calzedonia was founded in 1986 in the province of Verona, and the group is still headquartered near Verona at Dossobuono di Villafranca.