Brunello Cucinelli

A universal letter to women “For a long time I have wanted to write a letter to women, and I remember that this desire arose on the day my first granddaughter was born. That's when I realised that women have something that we men lack, as we are so entangled in an often vain logic. I write this letter to you, feeling slightly bashful and aware of your very special gift: you women live in deep harmony with nature, and that sublime thing that is love shines in you like the brightest star. I think that it is important and necessary for you to begin to enter history no longer as individuals, but all together, thanks to an intelligence that – besides logics and intuition – is rich in the intelligence of the heart. This is something charming that you share with poets, it is that genius that men can usually only experience in dreams, whereas poets and you women can access it more easily and turn it to creativity. Nature has filled you with gifts, and they are golden gifts that allow you to enter history as you deserve.” Extract from the last thought written by Brunello Cucinelli: “A universal letter to women”. Read the full text: https://lnkd.in/dB3aiK_Q

Starting this spring, the Solomeo Talent Academy is a course designed to train passionate people who are eager to cultivate their professional knowledge and personal qualities. The project is born from the core values of the Brunello Cucinelli company, which is always looking to create new opportunities for future talents yearning for growth. During the course, participants will have the opportunity to learn about different areas of interest: from visual displays to product knowledge and customer relations, while immersing themselves in the history and values of the brand in the idyllic setting of the hamlet of Solomeo in Umbria. We invite you to delve into the details of our programme by clicking on the following link. Should it resonate with you, we encourage you to apply and potentially join our journey: https://lnkd.in/dUdwMuZd

"Flying across the bright sky, a noble messenger embarks on a long journey from the hamlet of Solomeo to the ancient cities and boundless landscapes of China". This special series of content to celebrate the Lunar New Year speaks through festive and elegant images of the deep bond that unites the two continents. The cashmere thread carried by the magnificent Dragon represents the common thread of this precious relationship, rich in history, and a symbol of good fortune for the New Year.

A magical allegory comes to life in Solomeo. Suspended between dream and reality, the video "A Wondrous Tale", created for this special time of year, tells a "story in miniature" set in a Solomeo wrapped in the purity of the festive atmosphere. The visionary imagination of the artist and filmmaker Virgilio Villoresi gives life to a small but great adventure of timeless friendship. The dreamlike setting, a characteristic feature of Virgilio's work, is recreated with handmade materials, and animated using the stop-motion technique. Each frame is the result of a meticulous process and represents a point of contact with the philosophy of craftsmanship that has always inspired the brand's identity. “What are fables? They come from the experience of ancient peoples, they are rooted in the East, and from there they went to Greece with the tradition of the aoidoi; then they reached Rome and spread throughout Europe. As it happens, Aesop, the greatest writer of fables, came from Asia Minor. If philosophy is the tool that improves life through the intellect, fables speak to the soul because they represent all human feelings, destinies and hopes. A few examples: The Sun and the Wind by Aesop, or Love and Psyche by Apuleius; more recently, there have been poetic storytellers such as James Barrie, who invented the dreamy fable of Peter Pan, or Oscar Wilde, who taught us love for the needy with The Happy Prince. Let us read fables: they are the good part of our folly, the useful wisdom of mankind, and the finest form of life. Special thanks to our friend Virgilio Villoresi for bringing to life a new "mini" fable set in Solomeo”, commented Brunello Cucinelli.

On 7th December in Puyuan, in the Zhejiang province, Brunello Cucinelli received the prestigious 2023 “Designer of the Year” award from the renowned men's fashion magazine GQ China. Brunello Cucinelli was presented with the award by famous Chinese model He Cong and Roger Lynch, Global Chief Executive Officer of Condé Nast, for "standing out as a trendsetter in fashion and lifestyle". After receiving the prestigious Neiman Marcus Fashion Award in Paris in March, Brunello Cucinelli has now gained another very important recognition for the values of high craftsmanship and the dignity of manual labour, in the name of Italian genius and the values of Humanistic Capitalism and Human Sustainability. Brunello Cucinelli commented as follows: ‘I am deeply honoured by the “Men of the Year 2023” award presented to me by the prestigious men's fashion magazine GQ China in the fascinating setting of Puyuan and it is with delight that I thank the entire GQ team, starting from Roger Lynch, Will Welch, Gill Zhou to Rocco Liu. The past two years have been very special for the life of our Casa di Moda, years brightened by moving events – such as the invitation to speak at the G20 summit in Rome – as well as by prestigious awards, such as the one presented in London by British GQ and the “Neiman Marcus Fashion Award” received in Paris. I dedicate this accolade to all the youth of mankind, and to them I say: act as sentinels of Creation, do not turn your backs on poverty, seek harmony between profit and giving back, balance your time between soul, mind and body, and smile at life! When your soul is heavy, when something fails you, when someone humiliates you, go out into the open, raise your eyes to the sky and you will find serenity again’.

Yesterday, in Penne, Brunello Cucinelli officially presented an important project developed by the Solomeo-based Casa di Moda, whose aim is the establishment of a new, "beautiful factory" to manufacture men's suits. The new plant will see the light of day in spring 2025 and will employ between 300 and 350 highly qualified artisan workers. In the presence of the Mayor Gilberto Petrucci and the President of the Abruzzo Region, Marco Marsilio, the Umbrian company thus formalised a commitment that had been discussed for some time in Penne, a town in Abruzzo whose reputation as a district of excellence in men's tailoring is recognised throughout the world. The project, in line with the ideals that have always inspired the Solomeo-based company, has the ambition of promoting this district through a long-term business vision in terms of both employment and the environment. Brunello Cucinelli commented as follows: "Penne is a special place, where the tradition of the finest Italian craftsmanship is best expressed in the production and manufacture of men's suits; this is why we would like to contribute to a bright future for this fine heritage, combining the excellent craftsmanship skills from Abruzzo and Umbria. We would like the new enterprise to always bestow economic and moral dignity on noble manual labour, and to become a symbolic place where we can train the youth to be entrusted with our future. We will strive to provide all the right conditions so that our craftsmen of today and tomorrow can renew the most fascinating Italian sartorial creativity, so greatly admired throughout the world".

On October 17, Saks Fifth Avenue in New York unveiled a special window display to celebrate 25 years of collaboration between the Brunello Cucinelli brand and the historic luxury department store. The ‘Solomeo Express’ train cars created a highly effective backdrop through the windows overlooking the iconic street in the heart of Manhattan. The train scenography represents the ideal link between Solomeo and New York, symbolizing the friendship and shared values that underpin the long partnership. Brunello Cucinelli, who attended the event along with Saks CEO Marc Metrick and Chief Merchandising Officer Tracy Margolies, commented: “To celebrate the delightful collaboration that has bound us to Saks, our highly esteemed American partner, for twenty-five years, we wanted to create an ‘imaginary train’ connecting New York – a city full of charm, always soaring towards the future – to our beloved Solomeo. Besides the wonder for the scenic, engaging and realistic effect conveyed by the windows overlooking Fifth Avenue, I see this representation as a symbol of the deep sharing of values and the great friendship that binds us to them. Heartfelt thanks to all the guests who honoured us with their presence in a friendly, celebratory evening. And thanks to our dearest friends Richard Baker, Marc Metrick, Tracy Margolies and all the people at Saks who make this collaboration so special.”

On Sunday evening, in the historic hamlet of Solomeo, Brunello Cucinelli celebrated his seventieth birthday, a special event attended by many friends, family, collaborators and guests. The evening was also an occasion to toast the many personal and professional dreams that have been fulfilled. It was a tribute to his philosophy of life, to the brand's values and history, and to the many projects dedicated to preserving the cultural and natural beauty that Solomeo represents. A special fashion show was held in the Amphitheatre of the Forum of the Arts: a collection of iconic creations from the Brunello Cucinelli men's and women's collections, specially selected to encapsulate the philosophical and aesthetic heritage of the Italian Casa di Moda. Brunello Cucinelli, grateful and touched by the affection of all those present, commented as follows: “If I had been asked as a boy, when I spent my days deep in nature, to imagine myself in the distant future, I couldn't have conceived a celebration like yesterday's and the emotion of an evening that will stay in my heart forever. How much affection and unspeakable joy, how many memories! And how many stars shone on my beloved Solomeo and my family, lifelong friends, loyal co-workers and welcome guests who toasted with me my seventy years lived in harmony with Creation. It was also a tribute to Humanistic Capitalism and Human Sustainability, which have enlightened my life and inspired our company. All this, together with this special corner of the world, reminded me of the enchantment of nature that I have always pursued and which will hopefully continue to inspire me for tomorrow's dreams. I am deeply touched by the gift I received, a beautiful statue of Apollo, a symbol of the immense genius of the ancient Greeks, from whom I learnt to love beauty. Thank you immensely”.

Letter on Artificial and Human Intelligence “Like so many inventions that have accompanied the history of mankind and facilitated its progress, I like to think of artificial intelligence as a new handmaiden that accompanies human beings to inspire and renew their genius and creativity. I imagine this new reality as similar to a breath that can revive the vital fire of our human mind. “Parva favilla magnam flammam secundat” - [“From a little spark may burst a flame”]. This is what Dante Alighieri thought, a humble invitation to posterity to follow the universal call of perennial human values. Recently, a major ethical initiative has been launched to solicit proposals for a shared artificial intelligence design. I look at such an intention with fascination, trepidation and hope, because it shows how everyone feels the need for a nomos similar to that which the ancient Greeks gave themselves as a rule for their social and political life. I expect the contemporary Leonardos of technology to look to humanistic values as the source of their creations, for only in this way the results will be imbued with them and artificial intelligence will achieve the highest levels of good for mankind. Throughout their history, human beings have always imagined that they could create machines and automatons to free themselves from the heaviest and most repetitive tasks. It seems, therefore, if not to be feared, that artificial intelligence is to be prized for all the benefits it can bring to the world, to the extent that it can liberate man from the material burdens of present-day life, returning to him the dimension, time and space of an existence spent in harmony with nature, such as mankind experienced from the earliest times until at least the last century, in a contemporary setting”. Extract from the last thought written by Brunello Cucinelli: “Letter on Artificial and Human Intelligence”. Read the full text: https://lnkd.in/dgxd7qUU Image: Prometheus, illustration adapted by Massimo de Vico Fallani

A press conference was held this morning, with the participation of many journalists, in the prestigious setting of the University of Perugia, to present the "Young Sparks Symposium" in Solomeo, organized within the framework of the Erasmus+ Project by the University of Perugia, the Brunello Cucinelli company and the National Institute for Documentation, Innovation and Educational Research (Indire). Two hundred students from different universities and from all continents, accompanied by their professors, will attend the Symposium, which will take place on September 4-7 mainly in Solomeo, but also in Norcia, Assisi and Perugia. During the days, some crucial aspects of our time will be discussed, such as the relationship between people and science, humanism and technology and people and territory. In the afternoon of the last day students will draft the "Young Sparks Statement," i.e., a Programmatic Statement, a "Good Manners" Charter aimed at laying the foundation for a radical rethinking of the relationship of human beings with the scientific-technological knowledge. Also speaking to the young people will be prestigious and internationally renowned "keynote speakers" from the world of institutions, science, philosophy, literature and journalism as well as music and sports, including: Sonia Guajajara, Manuela Dviri, Giovanni Malagò, Sari Nusseibeh, Mauro Ferrari, Giovanni Caccamo, Andrea Pontremoli and Brunello Cucinelli himself. Brunello Cucinelli commented: "With the Symposium of Young Sparks, in agreement with our esteemed Università degli Studi di Perugia and the prestigious agency, we have imagined a great celebration of humanism in Solomeo, for all of Umbria and for our beautiful Italy. Our main theme and goal is to celebrate, together with future generations, the harmony of human beings with Creation, toward which, more than ever, it now seems necessary to have a real social contract encompassing every animate and inanimate entity that is part of it. I am increasingly convinced that humanity cannot be governed by science alone, and that, rather, we must return to thoroughly balancing science and spirit, strive to find the right equilibrium between technology and humanism. I like to imagine that each of the young participating students will be able to take home with them a precious gift: the desire to listen, to dialogue, to respond. Throughout my life, I have always tried to realise the dream of being a pro tempore custodian, in accordance with a saying by my great teacher Adriano Imperatore: "I feel responsible for the beauty of the world." Being able to share this dream with young people, whom I like to call the 'future sentinels of Humanity,' makes it immensely more fascinating."