NOVENTA VICENTINA, Italy — “I was born with a needle in my arm and I will have a needle in my arm until my last day.”
Spoken by a student who is part of Staff International’s School of Craftsmanship in a short film shown in the company on Friday, this quote showed the love that is the vehicle for many young professionals and designers who wish to work in the fashion industry. More are on the rise, according to Renzo Rosso, founder and chairman of parent company Staff International OTB, which also owns Diesel, Jil Sander, Maison Margiela, Marni, Viktor & Rolf and children’s clothing company Brave Kid.
To mark the 50th anniversary of Staff International and the start of the six-month training and professional program of its in-house School of Craftsmanship, the production and goods company presented its first 50 design show with the likes of John Galliano for Maison Margiela, Vivienne Westwood and Viktor & Rolf, among others.
Staff International, based in Noventa Vicentina, a three-hour drive from Milan, was described as the “jewel in the crown” of the fashion group by Rosso, who welcomed the minister of business and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, as well as many representatives of associations and business organizations such as Carlo Capasa, head of the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana; Stefania Lazzaroni, CEO of Altagamma, and Luca Sburlati, president of the fashion association Confindustria Moda, among others.
Rosso spoke about the importance of Urso’s presence, which “shows how investing in these activities is a great strategic advantage for the country, which accounts for more than 80 percent of the world’s luxury goods.”
The strength of the Italian pipeline and production system “depends on the ability to transform an idea into an extraordinary product, thanks to the work of artisans and the dedication of our excellent supply chain.
He emphasized the importance of craftsmanship and heritage but at the same time of technology, which allows brands to raise their performance goals.
“Here, a unique skill is developed, which combines technical skills, insight into design and manufacturing, and knowledge of industrial processes, essential for turning the visions of creative directors and designers into unique garments and accessories.”
Staff International students with Carlo Capasa, Ubaldo Minelli, Renzo Rosso and Adolfo Urso.
For the first time, in 2026 the school will run two editions a year, strengthening OTB’s commitment to developing increasingly strategic skills for the sector. One course just started this month and another will start in September, each with 10 students, and both will include product development, modeling and sewing.
Since the school started five years ago, more than 50 young talents have been trained, and more than 85 percent are employed in OTB companies, Rosso stressed.
Ubaldo Minelli, Director of OTB Group and Staff International, emphasized the importance of the School of Jobs “because without training there will be no future of Made in Italy. It is our responsibility to support young manufacturers and avoid dissipating unique skills.” At Staff International, four generations of professionals work together, “helping to protect the invaluable legacy of knowledge, experience and passion, which is passed on to young talent every day.”
Minelli said that there is a growing interest from the younger generations and, while he did not reveal the amount of the investment, he pledged to continue supporting the school “to ensure progress and strengthen the system.
Rosso saved Staff International from bankruptcy in 2000 and said, coming from the denim industry with Diesel, ready-to-wear was always his dream.
“Staff International is a diamond, a gem that many wanted to buy but I didn’t want to part with it.”
Staff International over the years has also produced brands including Marc Jacobs, Just Cavalli and Vivienne Westwood, among others, and they also manufacture and distribute Dsquared2 collections. Rosso listed the designers Staff International has worked with throughout its history, from Martin Margiela and Karl Lagerfeld, to Westwood, Galliano, Matthieu Blazy, Glenn Martens and Demna, to name a few.
“They all passed through here – imagine what kind of mark they left and we pass this knowledge to the students, in addition to our technology and new methods,” he said, speaking in front of some of the appearances made over the years and the exhibition. Cue the Marni hourglass flower dress by Francesco Risso worn by Simona Tabasco of “The White Lotus” at the Emmy Awards in 2004, for example, or Galliano’s experimental pieces for Maison Margiela.
“If you look at the smallest details, the pleats, the embellishments of these clothes, it’s just amazing, like the way the artisans here know how to accurately express the designer’s creativity,” said Rosso.
“OTB School of Craftsmanship perfectly embodies our tradition of production, which is an expression of Italian knowledge: of Renaissance workshops, where masters passed on knowledge and talent to new generations,” said Urso. “It is from this relationship between experience and youth that our Made in Italy strength is born – passed on from generation to generation – able to combine quality, innovation and experience as it continues to grow in global markets.” Training, skills and knowledge transfer are what the country needs most today. [on April 15]which focuses on the future challenges of our businesses. ”
When asked about the current situation, Rosso promoted innovation as a way to continue to navigate the difficult macroeconomic environment. He said that OTB is “well organized,” and that most of the important purchases for the group were made before the Middle East war so that the company “is protected until 2027 and this shows how serious we are. It is a difficult time for the industry because people are moving less, which leads to foot traffic. He said that about 40 OTB stores are currently closed in the Middle East.
The School of Craftsmanship is open to students holding diplomas from technical institutes, technical high schools and professional courses, as well as graduates of fashion degree programs from Italy.
In the first three months, the participants focus on sewing and constructing clothes, and in the following months they are directed to specific paths – development of collection products, modeling and sewing – according to their talents and the skills they have developed.
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