In 1877, one of the most visionary women of her time, Luisa Sargentini, was born in Perugia, Italy. The whole world knows her as Luisa Spagnoli - the woman who managed to put a small town on the industrial map of the world in not one, but two areas at once - confectionery and fashion. Luisa accelerated the evolution of a woman's status for half a century, not only as an industrial worker, but also as an entrepreneur.

The future style icon was born into the family of a fish and seafood merchant. Her father wanted her to continue his business, but she had no interest in fishing.

Bacio Perugina confectionery factory

In 1907 Spagnoli, in collaboration with Francesco Buitoni, Leone Ascoli and Francesco Andreani, opened a small confectionery factory. At the time of opening, the company employed 15 people.

Luisa Spagnoli's creativity, ingenuity and entrepreneurial skills led to the creation in 1922 of Bacio sweets (kiss in Italian), famous all over the world. They were made using hazelnuts, which were abundant in the country. These candies are still popular not only in Italy, but all over the world.

If at the time of the founding of the factory it employed 15 people, then after the First World War, when workers throughout Europe went on strike, the number of its employees exceeded a hundred. How did she do it?

Louise successfully utilized her entrepreneurial skills as well as her feminine wisdom. She developed a plan to improve the living standards of her employees and implemented it. An innovator of her time, Spagnoli began to develop the factory site with houses for workers, recreational facilities and a kindergarten.

It would seem that in the early 20th century, inequality was rampant throughout the world and the position of women in society was extremely difficult. Women were occupied with children and household chores, and patriarchy flourished in society. Contrary to this, in the history of Italian business, including fashion, there is a woman who completely turned the industry upside down - Luisa Spagnoli. Not only was she decades ahead of the competition, but she also introduced an innovative way for fashion to make yarn.

Luisa Spagnoli

In 1877, one of the most visionary women of her time, Luisa Sargentini, was born in Perugia, Italy. The whole world knows her as Luisa Spagnoli - the woman who managed to put a small town on the industrial map of the world in not one, but two areas at once - confectionery and fashion. Luisa accelerated the evolution of a woman's status for half a century, not only as an industrial worker, but also as an entrepreneur.

Luisa Spagnoli's entrepreneurial talent was not limited to candy. In 1928, Luisa Spagnoli entered the fashion industry. After one of her trips to Paris, she brought angora rabbits with her to Italy. No one in the country had previously been breeding them, and this was a real innovation. What was also innovative was the way Luisa Spagnoli used them. She started producing rabbit down products without killing the animals.

The future style icon was born into the family of a fish and seafood merchant. Her father wanted her to continue his business, but she had no interest in fishing.

Bacio Perugina confectionery factory

In 1907 Spagnoli, in collaboration with Francesco Buitoni, Leone Ascoli and Francesco Andreani, opened a small confectionery factory. At the time of opening, the company employed 15 people.

Luisa Spagnoli's creativity, ingenuity and entrepreneurial skills led to the creation in 1922 of Bacio sweets (kiss in Italian), famous all over the world. They were made using hazelnuts, which were abundant in the country. These candies are still popular not only in Italy, but all over the world.

If at the time of the founding of the factory it employed 15 people, then after the First World War, when workers throughout Europe went on strike, the number of its employees exceeded a hundred. How did she do it?

Louise successfully utilized her entrepreneurial skills as well as her feminine wisdom. She developed a plan to improve the living standards of her employees and implemented it. An innovator of her time, Spagnoli began to develop the factory grounds with houses for workers, recreational facilities, and a kindergarten.

If a woman was destined for the role of housewife, then with the onset of the war, many husbands went to the front, and the fair sex had to not only go to work, but also to take on the role of head of the family. The conditions that Spagnoli created for them helped them through the difficult times.

While other factories were closing down, Luisa Spagnoli's factory flourished. By the end of the war, the company employed several hundred people.

The confectionery giant Bacio Perugina remains one of the most famous factories in Italy, and the city of Perugia - the chocolate capital.

Luisa Spagnoli Fashion House

The animals were not killed, but the down was carefully combed out. The down was used to make warm, airy yarn, and the yarn was used to make shawls, sweaters, coats, scarves and shawls.

The quality of the fabric, feminine silhouettes and elegant cut were immediately appreciated by Italian and foreign buyers. At that time yarn was imported to Italy from Europe. It was of poor quality, and products made of it were not durable. The product that Luisa Spagnoli offered was innovative in terms of production, quality and appearance.

The founder of the brand Luisa Spagnoli never waited for the real triumph of her own brand. She died on September 21, 1935 from throat cancer.

Spagnoli's painstaking work was continued by her son Mario. He transformed the business from artisanal to industrial - provided the company with its own retail network, designed exclusively for the sale of its products. The first Luisa Spagnoli boutique was opened in Perugia in 1940. It was followed by stores in Florence, Rome, Venice, Naples and Milan, and soon all over the world.

Luisa Spagnoli today

Today the Luisa Spagnoli brand produces clothes not only from angora wool, but also textiles, lace, silk, cashmere, satin, organza. Luisa Spagnoli clothes have repeatedly been worn by the icons of their time - Sophia Loren, Gina Lollobrigida, Kate Middleton.

As for the brand's clothes, they are elegant and feminine. Luisa Spagnoli outfits are suitable both for everyday wear and for social events. Surprisingly, she manages to reveal the best sides of a woman's image and excellent taste. Not only fans of the brand agree with this, but also professionals - the brand was awarded the Leonardo Award for Italian Quality for helping to develop and strengthen the status of Italian clothing.

Now the brand is managed by Nicoletta Spagnoli, the fourth generation heiress of Luisa Spagnoli. She manages to keep the traditions of the brand's founder and at the same time create up-to-date collections. Today there are more than 200 Luisa Spagnoli stores in the world, which are located in the most fashionable neighborhoods of every city.