Fedeli
Luigi Fedeli e Figlio S.r.l. · Italy
Fedeli is an Italian luxury knitwear and apparel house founded in 1934 in Monza, famous for cashmere. Wikipedia reports that the Fedeli family holds 70 per cent, with Zegna and Prada each holding 15 per cent since 2023.
| Founded | 1934, Monza |
|---|---|
| Founder | Luigi Fedeli |
| Owners | Fedeli family 70 per cent; Zegna and Prada 15 per cent each since 2023 (Wikipedia) |
| Chairman and CEO | Gigi Fedeli (since 2008, per Wikipedia) |
| Headquarters | Monza, Italy |
What is Fedeli?
Fedeli is an Italian luxury knitwear and apparel company, operated by Luigi Fedeli e Figlio S.r.l. It makes men's and women's knitwear with a focus on cashmere, and a men's swimwear line, Swim&Wear, launched in the early 1990s. By 2017, according to Wikipedia, apparel and swimwear each made up about half of the activity.
History
Wikipedia states that the company was founded in 1934 in Monza, a city known for felt hat production, by Luigi Fedeli, who started with a small factory on via Arosio specialising in hats. During the German occupation the factory halted operations after refusing to make military leather garments, and the family moved to Brunate. After the war it shifted to knitwear under Rodolfo Fedeli and expanded its factory in 1962. Cashmere became central from the 1970s. A brand profile describes Fedeli as the first Italian company to specialise in cashmere knitwear, and notes that management passed to the founder's grandchildren in the 1980s.
Ownership and leadership
- The Fedeli family holds 70 per cent.
- Zegna and Prada each acquired 15 per cent in 2023, according to Wikipedia. This rests on one source and should be checked.
- Gigi Fedeli, the founder's son, has been chairman and chief executive since 2008, per Wikipedia.
Business model and distribution
Before the Second World War Fedeli sold nationwide in Italy. In 2016 Niccolo Fedeli led an expansion into the United States, opening a showroom in New York. A brand profile points to a store and showroom on a main shopping street in Milan. The sources reviewed give no current store counts or revenue figures.
Why it matters
Fedeli is a family-owned cashmere specialist that has moved from hats to knitwear and swimwear in ninety years. The reported 2023 stakes by Zegna and Prada would link it to two larger Italian groups and place it among the high-end knitwear names that include Malo, Loro Piana and Brunello Cucinelli.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Fedeli?
According to Wikipedia, the Fedeli family holds 70 per cent of the company, and Zegna and Prada each acquired 15 per cent in 2023.
Where is Fedeli from?
Fedeli is from Monza, Italy, where Luigi Fedeli founded the company in 1934 as a hat maker. It later became known for cashmere knitwear.