Save the Duck
Italy
Save the Duck is a Milan-based Italian outerwear brand that makes animal-free padded jackets. Since April 2022 its majority shareholders have been Reinold Geiger and Andre Hoffmann, who bought out the private equity firm Progressio SGR, and Nicolas Bargi remains chief executive.
| Founder | Nicolas Bargi |
|---|---|
| Majority owners | Reinold Geiger and Andre Hoffmann (since April 2022) |
| Headquarters | Milan, Italy |
| Certification | B Corp (reported in 2022) |
| Segment | Premium and contemporary |
| Website | savetheduck.com |
What is Save the Duck?
Save the Duck is an Italian outerwear brand based in Milan. It describes itself as a 100 per cent animal-free down jacket brand and was described in 2022 as the first fashion company in Italy to obtain B Corp certification. The founding year is not stated in the sources reviewed.
Ownership
On 21 April 2022 Reinold Geiger and Andre Hoffmann, then chairman and chief executive of L'Occitane International, acquired a majority stake from Progressio SGR, a Milan-based private equity firm, and from other minority shareholders. They invested personally through their own vehicles, Societe d'Investissements Cime SA and Anatra Investments Limited. They already held minority stakes before the deal.
Leadership
Nicolas Bargi is the founder and was still chief executive at the time of the 2022 transaction. He represents the third generation of his family's textile business, Forest Srl.
Products and positioning
The brand focuses on padded outerwear that avoids animal down, positioning sustainability as part of the product. Trade coverage calls it a down-free outerwear specialist.
Business model and distribution
Save the Duck has also entered international partnerships. Teijin Frontier Co., Ltd. and Save the Duck jointly established Save the Duck Japan Ltd., based in Tokyo, with Kenichi Haruta appointed as president. The sources reviewed do not describe the brand's wholesale and retail mix in detail.
Why it matters
Save the Duck is a notable example of a sustainability-led outerwear brand that has attracted private investors and international partners, competing with traditional down specialists such as Colmar and Peuterey.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Save the Duck?
Reinold Geiger and Andre Hoffmann, then chairman and chief executive of L'Occitane International, bought a majority stake in April 2022 from Progressio SGR and other minority shareholders. They invested in a personal capacity.
Is Save the Duck down-free?
Yes. Save the Duck describes itself as a 100 per cent animal-free down jacket brand and uses non-animal padding in its outerwear.