OTB marks 20 years of Diesel in China with the opening of its new APAC headquarters in Shanghai

Only The Brave reaffirms its long-term dedication to China with three initiatives that underscore the significance of the Chinese marketplace for the worldwide trend and luxurious group, which brings collectively the manufacturers Diesel, Jil Sander, Maison Margiela, Marni, Viktor&Rolf, and the firms Staff International and Brave Kid, and holds a stake in the Amiri model. In addition, founder Renzo Rosso says he’ll make investments additional in China.

The first initiative is the official opening of its new APAC headquarters in Shanghai, a area the place OTB now has 900 workers and round 100 shops, unfold throughout China, Hong Kong, and Macao. Attending the inauguration ceremony, alongside the group’s founder, Renzo Rosso, had been the Consul General of Italy in Shanghai Tiziana D’Angelo and Shanghai’s Jing’an District authorities.

The new headquarters boasts double the area of its earlier tackle and is positioned in the Lee Gardens constructing. Nestled in the coronary heart of the metropolis’s Jing’an District, it overlooks the scenic Suzhou Creek. According to a press release, the location and growth of the workplaces replicate the group’s need to strengthen its roots in China, in addition to to supply the crew more and more trendy and useful workspaces and to consolidate relationships with native companions.

The second initiative throughout Renzo Rosso’s go to to China was a chat for college students at Donghua University, one of Asia’s most prestigious design and trend universities, organised beneath the patronage of the Consulate General of Italy, Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana, Altagamma, the Italian Trade Agency, and the Italian Cultural Institute.

Third initiative: as 2025 marks the twentieth anniversary of Diesel’s presence in China, the place the model has constructed a recognisable and coherent presence, an occasion was organised at the Fosun Foundation in Shanghai. The spotlight of the occasion was the launch of a capsule assortment titled “Diesel China 20th Anniversary”, designed by Creative Director Glenn Martens.

“China is a country with a unique energy; every time I come back here I am fascinated by its pace, creativity and speed,” stated Renzo Rosso. “For our group, China is not only a strategic market, but an inexhaustible source of inspiration. Over the past two decades, we have expanded the presence of our brands and built an authentic dialogue with new generations who share the values of our brands. Our philosophy is to collaborate with local communities to merge brand know-how with the local mindset. The opening of the new Shanghai headquarters, meeting with young talent at Donghua University, and the celebrations of Diesel’s 20th anniversary represent a special moment for me and for the OTB Group […] We will continue to invest in China in the future.”

Shortly earlier than the night occasion in Shanghai, Rosso informed Reuters that these investments in China can be made by his group regardless of the decline in the native market, and can take the kind of a reorganisation of OTB’s retail presence. The entrepreneur revealed that some shops can be closed, however others can be opened in new and higher places.

“I am optimistic. I think that if the Chinese market continues to proceed in this way, it could represent an opportunity, because we will be able to have better spaces at better prices, which wasn’t the case before,” Rosso informed Reuters. “My current vision is to invest in the country. I believe in China; it’s so big, so important. We are doing well this year compared to the market,” he added. “Everyone is in decline; we have some growth, so we are quite satisfied.”

Over the years, the Veneto-based group has supported quite a few initiatives and collaborations in China which have related the creativity and values of its manufacturers with designers, artists and native communities. Notable amongst these are the “Marni Miao” mission, which celebrated the magnificence and complexity of embroidery by reinterpreting the codes of the Miao minority by means of a up to date lens, in addition to the numerous capsule collections that Diesel has created in collaboration with Chinese designers comparable to Xander Zhou and Pronounce and celebrities comparable to William Chan and Chris Lee, alongside with occasions and music excursions with native artists.

In addition, Maison Margiela has introduced its experimental imaginative and prescient into dialogue with the nation’s up to date artwork and tradition by means of new retail codecs, pop-ups, installations and initiatives in completely different cities, whereas MM6 Maison Margiela has collaborated with designer Chen Peng.

In addition, OTB has lengthy supported the new era of Chinese expertise. Renzo Rosso has in truth served on the jury of the BoF China Prize in 2019 and supported the launch of the Yu Prize competitors, offering mentorship and training to assist and develop the nation’s younger designers.