A biography for Diego Della Vallehasn’t been written yet.
“You have to be serious-minded in business, but not take yourself seriously.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“I hope I will be remembered as a good father and a fair employer. And a good host, of course!”
“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.”
“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.”
“I was born and I live in a small village, where the centre of life is the square, and the small bar/cafe.”
“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.”
“When I was a kid, I wanted to be a footballer and racing driver, like all kids.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“When I am walking in Central Park, I recognize the Italians. Because an Italian, even when he jogs, he's dressed perfect.”
“I want people to feel happy when they wear my shoes.”