Dondup
Italy
Dondup is an Italian contemporary fashion brand built around denim, with women's, men's and accessories collections. It was founded by Manuela Mariotti and Massimo Berloni and is rooted in Fossombrone in the Marche region. In 2026 the singer Achille Lauro became its artistic director, a notable change of creative direction.
| Founded | 1999 (signature jeans) |
|---|---|
| Founders | Manuela Mariotti, Massimo Berloni |
| Origin | Fossombrone, Marche, Italy |
| Segment | Premium and contemporary |
| Artistic director | Achille Lauro (since May 2026) |
| Chief executive | Mauro Grange (named by Forbes Italia, September 2026) |
| Website | dondup.com |
What is Dondup?
Dondup is an Italian contemporary label best known for its jeans. The brand covers women's and men's clothing as well as accessories, and denim remains the core of the offer. Its signature jeans date back to 1999, the year usually given for the start of the brand.
History
Dondup was founded by Manuela Mariotti and Massimo Berloni and was born in Fossombrone, in Italy's Marche region, where its manufacturing workshops are located. Textilwirtschaft reported in June 2021 that the founders had returned to the industry about two decades after creating the label, having sold Dondup to a financial investor and then withdrawn. The current ownership structure is not confirmed in the sources reviewed for this profile.
Products and positioning
The range spans denim, tailoring, outerwear, knitwear and accessories for women and men, positioned in the premium contemporary segment. In 2026 the brand began restoring its original logo and the red shade known as Rosso Dondup as signature elements.
Leadership and creative direction
Forbes Italia reported on 1 September 2026 that Lauro De Marinis, known as Achille Lauro, became artistic director in May 2026. He leads the style office for the women's, men's and accessories collections. His first collection, Autumn-Winter 2026/27 titled "Erotica", was presented at his San Siro concert in June. The same article names Mauro Grange as chief executive.
Business model and distribution
Dondup is a wholesale-led brand sold through multi-brand retail, supported by a showroom that opened in May 2026. Details of its own retail network are not covered in the sources reviewed.
Why it matters
Dondup is a long-standing example of Italian premium denim, and the appointment of a music and fashion personality as artistic director shows how contemporary labels are using cultural figures to refresh their image.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Dondup?
Dondup was founded by Manuela Mariotti and Massimo Berloni, who later sold it to a financial investor, according to Textilwirtschaft in 2021. The current ownership structure could not be confirmed from the sources reviewed.
Who is the creative director of Dondup?
Achille Lauro, whose legal name is Lauro De Marinis, became artistic director in May 2026, according to Forbes Italia. His first collection was Autumn-Winter 2026/27.