The Piquadro Group: an interview with Marco Palmieri, the company’s CEO

Between style and sustainability

You came up with the idea about Piquadro when you were a young and ambitious engineering student. Why did you choose this name for your company?

Piquadro means ‘P squared’, where P stands for my surname, Palmieri, and for pelletterie (leather products). I have always been very passionate about mathematics, so when I created my brand, I thought this name would be perfect.

What are the values of your company?

The combination of design and performance with true Italian craftsmanship, the use of fine leather and attention to detail.

Sustainability: how important is it for your group?

The Piquadro Group is firmly committed to promoting sustainable innovation. Our first social responsibility projects were already launched more than ten years ago with the aim of promoting diversity. Then we started adopting green practices for our product design. Finally, we started a project to support our mountain communities and offset the carbon emissions of the entire group.

In 2018, the Piquadro group acquired the Lancel brand. What determined this choice?

One year and a half before acquiring Lancel, I had the opportunity to acquire The Bridge, a historic leather house from Florence. The acquisition of Lancel was for us a great opportunity to add a prestigious French brand of womens handbags to the group, enabling more consistent synergies and growth potential for the three brands.

Lancel has existed since the Belle Epoque. In your opinion, what is the reason for its longevity?

The first Lancel boutique was established in 1879. Its nickname was Au Phénix (the phoenix) and today, almost 150 years later, I think it could not have had a better name. Just like the mythological bird, Lancel has the ability to renew itself, to be born again throughout the seasons and the centuries.