When and how was Dino Zoli Textile established?
Dino Zoli Textile is the founding company of the Dino Zoli Group, established by my father, Dino Zoli, in 1972 in Forlì. At the heart of the business is the research, study, design, and production of high-quality fabrics for upholstering furniture across various sectors, including Interior Design, Contract, Marine, and Hospitality. Today, the Group’s activities are highly diversified, thanks first and foremost to my father’s enthusiasm and curiosity, and later to the entry of myself and my brother, which provided further momentum. Today, the company produces and markets furnishing fabrics in broad, diversified ranges, ready for fast delivery—a key strength of our service. We have a subsidiary in Brazil, Dino Zoli Brasil, launched by my father in the 1990s to market Italian-developed furnishing fabrics in Brazil and across South America. In 2000, we opened the Dino Zoli Arte Gallery; in 2007, the Dino Zoli Foundation dedicated to contemporary art; in 2008, the I Sabbioni Agricultural Company; in 2011, we acquired a Ravenna-based company specialized in lighting and integrated systems, founding DZ Engineering. Finally, in 2020, we established the Dino Zoli Group Holding, which brings together all the companies under one umbrella.
It’s clear that you pour great passion into your work and prioritize respect for the planet through your material choices. Tell us more.
For us, environmental protection and sustainability are core values of our philosophy. In line with this, we designed the REspect collection, which features fabrics made from recycled yarns—not virgin fibers—that are both durable and long-lasting. Born from extensive research, the REspect collection embodies eco-design principles aimed at producing and distributing high-quality fabrics that blend style, comfort, and sustainability, fostering the growth of a circular economy. To further minimize waste, we created a dedicated space at our Forlì headquarters to sell leftover fabrics and remnants, some cleverly repurposed into handmade items for creative, original gifts. This space is open not only to employees but also to external visitors and DIY enthusiasts who use these materials to craft unique creations. Additionally, unused materials, including paper from our printing process (after transferring patterns onto fabric), are donated to volunteer organizations, nonprofits, parishes, social cooperatives, and local schools. This serves a dual purpose: educating against waste and reviving traditional handicrafts. In collaboration with the Dino Zoli Foundation, we’ve organized sustainability-focused events, including a Recycled Art exhibition and five talks—one addressing the textile industry’s environmental impact. The virtual exhibition and talk recordings are available at www.fondazionedinozoli.it. Lastly, all our buildings are equipped with photovoltaic panels for green energy production.
Your activities are closely tied to art and social initiatives. Can you elaborate?
As mentioned earlier, we opened the Dino Zoli Arte Gallery in 2000 and the Dino Zoli Foundation in 2007. What sets us apart is the deep interaction and synergy between our business activities and these two entities, which channel our passion for art and social projects. This creates a bidirectional exchange of inspiration, as seen in the exhibition “Exploratory Weaves: A Journey Through Tapestry” (open until March 16th and extended to April 19th due to its popularity), where the textile art of tapestry served as a medium for expression by renowned historical and contemporary artists and designers. The Dino Zoli Foundation also spearheads initiatives across the arts and promotes social themes like environmental respect, gender equality, and inclusion. These projects align with both the company’s mission and my personal values. I believe businesses are vital societal actors and must commit earnestly to this role.
What does “Made in Italy” mean to you?
To me, “Made in Italy” is not just a label of origin or the act of manufacturing in Italy. It’s a mindset—an attitude blending craftsmanship, ingenuity, and vision. Our ability to create “beauty” stems from a unique balance between artisanal tradition and industrial innovation, marrying millennia-old heritage with cutting-edge solutions that unite style, taste, and creativity. What truly distinguishes Made in Italy is its flexibility—the ability to turn constraints into opportunities, transforming them into competitive advantages. It’s the drive to achieve goals with determination, never compromising on quality or identity. Betraying these principles would strip it of value, eroding its essence. The true hallmark of Made in Italy lies in the idea: conceived, studied, refined, and meticulously executed. Behind every product is a research process, a vision materialized into form, a harmony of shapes, colors, and details that carries the excellence of a culture capable of inspiring emotion and enduring through time.
