Gruppo Calzedonia Changes Name to Oniverse
MILAN — Gruppo Calzedonia is changing its name to Oniverse, reflecting the transformation of the Italian company from an innerwear and hosiery specialist to an international and diversified group that now spans from luxury fashion and label Antonio Marras, to bridal, food and wine.
Founded by Sandro Veronesi in Verona, Italy, in 1986, the group now comprises innerwear, hosiery and beachwear brands Calzedonia, Intimissimi, Intimissimi Uomo and Tezenis; knitwear and cashmere label Falconeri; wine retailer Signorvino; bridal brand Atelier Emé; Marras and, after the acquisition of premium yacht-maker Cantiere del Pardo, the Grand Soleil, Pardo and Van Dutch labels.
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Veronesi, who holds the role of chairman, touted the “constant growth” of the group, and its “great history, a universe in continuous evolution,” and the unique identity of each brand. Accordingly, he chose “a name that would be independent and autonomous, but that could represent the essence of all brands. In fact, we want for each brand to have its autonomy, while remaining part of a group. Oniverse indicates precisely that belonging, but also freedom. A heterogeneous group, comprising different companies, but part of the same project.”
The renaming is seen as a fundamental step to further develop the group’s potential. Oniverse tweaks the word universe, is the anagram of the Veronesi surname, and is the result of an in-house contest to define the new name, engaging the company’s employees and signaling their involvement in the evolution and development of the company.
As reported, the group once again took the top spot as the company with the highest potential to go public, according to the 2023 “Le Quotabili” study by Milan-based consultancy Pambianco Strategie di Impresa. In the report, Veronesi admitted that a listing is “an opportunity we have considered many times, but that we have always postponed to focus on other goals.” The 64-year-old executive said the main objectives are now the generational handover, as his children increase their responsibilities within the company, and the evolution into a group of brands and companies, allowing each to be more autonomous. “So the Bourse could be an option, but in the future, not now,” he concluded.
Gruppo Calzedonia in 2022 logged another year of growth, reporting revenues up 21.6 percent to more than 3 billion euros.
Last year, Veronesi decided to take an 80 percent stake in Marras’ namesake company, providing its retail and production experience, in addition to its financial muscle, to develop the brand, which has recently opened key stores in luxury streets in Rome and Florence.
In an evolution for Calzedonia, the brand has staged shows during Paris Fashion Week last year and in Milan in September. As for Signorvino, it is also expanding outside of Italy, last week opening its first store in Paris, following a unit in Prague in early November.
Intimissimi has enjoyed additional visibility thanks to a capsule collection by Jennifer Lopez, launched in October. Entitled “This Is Me Now,” the new line draws inspiration from the pop star’s forthcoming ninth album, which debuts next year.
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