Diego Della Valle Quotes

Powerful Diego Della Valle for Daily Growth

About Diego Della Valle

Diego Della Valle (born May 29, 1955) is an Italian entrepreneur and art collector, best known as the founder and President of Tod's S.p.A., a luxury fashion house with a focus on leather goods, footwear, and accessories. Born in Sant'Angelo in Vado, Italy, Della Valle was influenced by his family's passion for craftsmanship and artisanal skills. His great-grandfather, Filippo Della Valle, established Tod's in 1920 as a small workshop producing high-quality leather shoes. Diego took over the company at just 23 years old following the death of his father, Dorino Della Valle. Under Della Valle's leadership, Tod's has grown into an international luxury brand with hundreds of retail stores worldwide. He is credited for repositioning the brand from a traditional Italian leather goods maker to a contemporary and stylish label. In 2008, he expanded the company's portfolio by acquiring the American luxury brand Hogan, further solidifying Tod's position in the global luxury market. Della Valle is also an avid art collector with a particular interest in modern and contemporary art. He has supported numerous artists, including Anselm Kiefer and Cy Twombly, and has donated works to museums such as the Louvre and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. In 2013, Della Valle was appointed by the Italian government as the president of the Fondazione Romano d'Kraut, a cultural institution dedicated to promoting contemporary art in Italy. The following year, he was awarded the title of Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic for his contributions to the Italian economy and culture. Today, Diego Della Valle continues to lead Tod's as President and remains committed to preserving traditional craftsmanship while embracing innovation in the world of luxury fashion.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Success is not a destination, it's a journey."

Diego Della Valle's quote "Success is not a destination, it's a journey" emphasizes that success is not just about reaching a specific goal or end result, but rather the process of striving towards it. It suggests that the true value lies in the efforts, experiences, and personal growth gained along the way. This perspective encourages perseverance, resilience, and a continuous learning mindset, reminding us that the journey itself is filled with opportunities for self-improvement and fulfillment.


"The secret of my success is that we have gone against the rules, which everybody says cannot be done."

This quote by Diego Della Valle indicates his belief in challenging conventional wisdom as a key factor to his success. He suggests that going against the commonly accepted norms or rules can lead to unconventional but effective solutions, often leading to success. This quote encourages boldness, creativity, and an innovative mindset that defies traditional thinking to achieve extraordinary results.


"In life, you don't get what you wish for, but rather what you work for."

This quote suggests that achieving one's goals is not dependent on mere wishes or desires; it is primarily determined by the amount of effort and hard work one puts in. Essentially, the message conveys the idea that success comes from action, persistence, and dedication rather than just wishful thinking. It encourages people to actively work towards their ambitions instead of passively waiting for them to materialize.


"We must always look ahead and strive to do better. This is the key to success."

The quote by Diego Della Valle emphasizes the importance of progress and continuous improvement as essential factors for achieving success. By looking forward, we can identify opportunities, overcome challenges, and maintain a mindset that drives us to strive for better outcomes. This perspective encourages constant growth and development, ensuring that one remains adaptable, competitive, and driven in personal or professional endeavors. Ultimately, it is this relentless pursuit of improvement that fuels success over time.


"The most important thing in business is to make a profit, not to make shoes or sell them."

This quote emphasizes that the primary goal of any business should be profit-making, rather than focusing solely on the production or sale of goods such as shoes. It suggests that while creating and selling products are important aspects of a business, they should ultimately serve to generate profits for its growth and sustainability. The underlying message is that profit is the lifeblood of a successful enterprise, and all other aspects of business should be guided by this principle.


I remember perfectly my first trip to New York, when I was on the bridge between Brooklyn and Manhattan, when I saw the skyscrapers. It was like an incredible dream.

- Diego Della Valle

New, I Remember, Perfectly, Manhattan

When it is possible, I choose to have a quiet life.

- Diego Della Valle

Quiet, Choose, Possible, Quiet Life

I love and admire the American culture and the American dream. I learnt so many things about the American shoe industry and marketing strategies. I caught the secrets of American casual wear, that is elegant and wearable, retro and modern, and mixed it with an Italian touch, luxurious and handmade.

- Diego Della Valle

Love, Admire, Caught, Italian

Saks is one of the temples of good-quality products in America. The Saks shop in New York, for me, is the most interesting department store in America.

- Diego Della Valle

New, Shop, Temples, Department Store

Businessmen should not put their finger in politics, because they tend to think only of their own self-interest. But I worry about the low morale in Italian industry and the lack of government initiatives to help the poor.

- Diego Della Valle

Politics, Worry, Finger, Businessmen

On weekends, the U.S. was casual; in Italy the weekend was very formal. I came to understand that weekends are about free time, and that one could wear high quality, tasteful products that weren't so formal.

- Diego Della Valle

Weekend, Weekends, Very, High Quality

I grew up watching my father work, and learning from him what good quality is. I took from him the passion to create beautiful and exclusive products. He also taught me to persevere if I want to reach my goals.

- Diego Della Valle

Father, Reach, Persevere, Goals

The boom for luxury goods is unending. There are people who never have to worry about whether they can afford something they like. In one part of the world or another there will always be someone with money to spend on luxury.

- Diego Della Valle

Worry, Always, Boom, Unending

I was looking for a name with an old English sound, very easy to pronounce in every language and easy to remember. At the beginning I used J. P. Tod's, but then in 1999 it was shortened since too many people were asking who was Mr. J. P. Tod's.

- Diego Della Valle

Beginning, Asking, Very, Too Many People

We must never lose sight of the fact that shoes go on the feet, and if people can't walk in them, they are worthless. Fashion designers who are not specialists need the help of technical people. We help decide the collections together.

- Diego Della Valle

Feet, Fact, Technical, Collections

La Scala is easily one of the top 10 symbols of Italy's cultural excellence. That makes it vital to our global image. Closing it would send a message to the rest of the world that Italy doesn't care.

- Diego Della Valle

Excellence, Rest, Image, La

Sure, Tod's makes shoes and bags. But we make them using leather, which is a living substance to me. And behind each shoe and bag, which in itself may be attractive and useful and comfortable to carry and wear, there is this Italian spirit, this Italian dream.

- Diego Della Valle

Behind, Wear, Bags, Shoe

I worked in the family business, which was my father's shoe making company that he had inherited from his father, and that led me to become interested in what could be achieved by a great Italian brand. That became my ambition as a young man.

- Diego Della Valle

Father, Young, Became, Shoe

My father wasn't absolutely delighted. He wanted me to become a lawyer. I studied law, but I thought the shoe business was more exciting.

- Diego Della Valle

Business, Law, Thought, Shoe

I come from a family with a long tradition in shoemaking, and I still live in a region famous for its shoemakers. It is getting harder and harder to find skilled workers. There are no professional training institutes, so we have to train our own employees. And an apprenticeship takes three years.

- Diego Della Valle

Training, Own, Skilled, Region

Of course China is an important new market for Tod's, and of course we need to succeed commercially. But I believe the way to do that is not to aim to deliver results in the short term by thoughtless expansion, but instead to explain to the Chinese people what our brand is really about.

- Diego Della Valle

Aim, Explain, About, Short Term

Tod's customers - whatever their nationality - want the very best things in life.

- Diego Della Valle

Want, Very, Things, Nationality

When I am walking in Central Park, I recognize the Italians. Because an Italian, even when he jogs, he's dressed perfect.

- Diego Della Valle

Perfect, Italian, Italians, Central Park

Almost everyone wears rubber on their feet these days, but there was a time when it was considered cheap. Luxury shoes had leather soles, which were rigid and heavy.

- Diego Della Valle

Feet, Which, Almost Everyone, Rigid

I bought into Saks as a personal investment because, when I was a young man and went to America for the first time, it seemed to me that Saks was like a cathedral of retail. I never dreamt that I could one day be a part of it. And now I am.

- Diego Della Valle

Young, One Day, Part, Retail

My father taught me respect for quality as well as a sense of dignity - great values as we face a world going in a different direction. I try to teach my children to stay close to the real things.

- Diego Della Valle

Father, Values, Going, Close

The idea behind our shoes is simple: they are as light as possible, very soft and made from the finest leather we can buy. We try to make a combination of something that looks fantastic and is at the same time fantastically comfortable. This is the type of luxury people want to buy now, things that they can use every day.

- Diego Della Valle

Behind, Idea, Very, Soft

Put a compass to paper and trace a circle. Then tell me which other country has such a concentration of places like Amalfi, Naples, Ischia, Procida, Sorrento, Positano, Pompeii, and Capri.

- Diego Della Valle

Country, Other, Which, Trace

I was born and I live in a small village, where the centre of life is the square, and the small bar/cafe.

- Diego Della Valle

Small, I Was Born, Square, Village

I need to have a quick wardrobe. Two or three blazers with dark gray pants, two pairs of jeans, two light blue shirts, a casual shirt, two pairs of shoes, one formal one not. Small accessories like Tod's Greca belt and our woven bracelets for a wild touch.

- Diego Della Valle

Small, Pants, Quick, Shirts

When you work too much, you are boring - that is possible. But to have a happy life, if you can do several things in the correct way, that is perfect.

- Diego Della Valle

Work, Perfect, Correct, Happy Life

Image is something you construct, while reputation starts at home. If you are able to pass on solid values to your children, then they can become citizens of the world.

- Diego Della Valle

Image, Pass, Solid, Citizens

I hope I will be remembered as a good father and a fair employer. And a good host, of course!

- Diego Della Valle

Father, Remembered, Will, Employer

I am a liberal. I want everyone to be well.

- Diego Della Valle

I Am, Want, Everyone, Liberal

Italian style is a natural attitude. It is about a life of good taste. It doesn't have to be expensive. Simple but with good taste. Luxury is possible to buy. Good taste is not.

- Diego Della Valle

Natural, Taste, Good Taste, Luxury

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.