Wikipedia

Dainese

Dainese (pronounced dye-ee-neh-zeh; Italian: [daiˈneze]) is an Italian manufacturer of protective equipment and technical gear for dynamic sports, including motorcycling, mountain biking, winter sports and horseriding. Founded in 1972 by Lino Dainese, it has expanded through organic growth and acquisitions, including Italian helmet manufacturer AGV in 2007.[1]

Dainese SpA
Company typePrivate
IndustryMotorcycle and motorsport protection
Sports protective gear
Founded1972; 52 years ago (1972)
FounderLino Dainese
Headquarters
Colceresa
,
Italy
Key people
Cristiano Silei (CEO)
Owners
SubsidiariesAGV helmets
Websitedainese.com

Headquartered in Bahrain, Investcorp acquired a controlling interest in the company in 2014, keeping its founder as a minority shareholder.[2][3] The company has been led by CEO Cristiano Silei since 2015.[4]

In 2022, The Carlyle Group acquired the stake held by Investcorp and became a majority shareholder in Dainese.[5][6][7]

History edit

 
Lino Dainese, founder

Lino Dainese started the company in 1972 when he was 20, making protective motorcycle apparel in Molvena, Vicenza, Italy.[8] The first article of clothing was a pair of motocross pants.[9] The company has been closely associated with motorcycle racing since its foundation, which has informed its product development, focused on safety, performance and ergonomics.[10]

After buying the Italian helmet manufacturer AGV in July 2007,[11] the Dainese Group was acquired for €130 million by Investcorp in 2014, keeping its founder as a minority shareholder and president.[12] Lino Dainese then founded D Airlab, a research center for applying D-air technology for non-sports users, such as construction workers and the elderly.[13]

Since its acquisition in 2014, the group has reported annual revenue growth from €117 million in 2013 to €184.7 million in 2017, during which period the number of employees increased from 609 to 757, as of March 2018.[14][15] Currently, it maintains its headquarters and its Research and Development and Design Centers in Italy, as well as two regional offices: one in California, USA and one in Hong Kong.[16]

In 2022, The Carlyle Group acquired the stake held by Investcorp and became a majority shareholder in Dainese.

Products edit

 
Dainese woman's suit

Dainese Group helmets are branded AGV, while the suits, jackets, shock-absorbing armors and back protectors, pants, boots, gloves and accessories are branded Dainese. These products are made with materials including traditional cowhide, kangaroo skin, aramid, carbon fiber and titanium, and are sold off-the-rack, made-to-measure, or custom made.[17] In 2017 Dainese added the motorcycling fashion clothing brand "Settantadue" ("seventy-two" in Italian).[18][19][20]

Dainese has diversified its product range over the years to cover mountain biking, skiing and horse riding, often using the technologies developed for motorcycle racing.[21][22][23]

Research edit

The Dainese Technology Center (D-Tec) develops protection and apparel-related technologies for the group companies and other applications. The company has registered 118 patents.[24] In MotoCAP's independent safety research, various Dainese products – such as the Avro 4, Prima72 and Fighter jackets – have achieved high test scores.[25]

Dainese D-air edit

Dainese D-air is an electronically actuated airbag system developed for motorcyclists. Development began in 1995 and the first working prototype was tested on a race track in 2000. Dainese D-air activated for the first time in an official race when the Italian rider Simone Grotkyj crashed during a 2007 MotoGP practice session at the Valencia circuit.[26][27] The first Dainese D-air system launched on the market was the racing version in 2011. In 2015, Dainese began selling the Misano 1000, the first standalone jacket for road use incorporating its Dainese D-air Street system, and a version for skiing.[28] There have been significant legal proceedings – widely reported in the press – between Alpinestars and Dainese regarding aspects of their competing motorcycle airbags.

Aerospace edit

D-Tec hired MIT professor and former NASA Deputy Administrator Dana Newman and space architect Guillermo Trotti to develop the BioSuit, a space suit that uses lines of non-extension on the human body to improve freedom of movement for astronauts during extravehicular activities while maintaining constant pressure. In September 2015, European Space Agency astronaut Andreas Mogensen was the first to test the Dainese SkinSuit in space during his iriss mission to the International Space Station (ISS). This skin-tight garment is designed to be worn inside the ISS, providing head-to-foot loading to counter the lack of gravity and reduce the risk of post-flight injuries to the spinal intervertebral discs. The SkinSuit was worn on the ISS a second time in November 2016, by the French astronaut Thomas Pesquet during the Proxima Mission.[29][better source needed]

Worker safety garments edit

In 2017, working in partnership with the Italian multinational energy company ENEL and occupational health professors and doctors at Bologna University and Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, D Airlab developed the Safety Jacket, an airbag system for protecting workers at risk of accidents from impacts or falling when working at height.[30][better source needed][31]

Emirates Team New Zealand edit

In 2017, Dainese collaborated with Emirates Team New Zealand crew members to design Sea-Guard, the first safety garment developed for yacht races to integrate impact protection and flotation tasks in a single solution.[32][better source needed]

Dainese Advanced Research Program edit

Dainese has been working with the Trauma Team at the Niguarda Ca'Granda Hospital, Milan, since 2013 as part of its Dainese Advanced Research Program, which analyzes the effects of motorbike accidents on the human body to improve the design of protective equipment and general rider safety.[33]

Design awards edit

Dainese has employed designers including Yohji Yamamoto, Adriano Goldschmied, Marc Sadler, Renato Montagner, and Aldo Drudi.[citation needed] The company has won the following design awards.

2001 T-Age suit – ADI Compasso d'Oro International Award[34][circular reference]

2017 Mugello R suit – RedDot Design Award[35]

2017 Mugello R suit – Good Design Award[36]

2017 Mugello R suit – International Design Excellence Award[37]

2017 Pro Armor protector – RedDot Design Award[35]

2017 Pro Armor protector – Good Design Award[38]

2017 Pro Armor protector – ADI Compasso d'Oro International Award[39]

2018 AWA M1 ski jacket – Red Dot Design Award[40]

2018 AWA M1 ski jacket – Good Design Award[41]

2018 Pro Armor protector – ISPO Award[42]

2018 HP1 RC ski jacket – ISPO Award[42]

Dainese is a member of Altagamma, a trade group of Italian automotive, fashion, recreation, travel, and design companies formed in 1992 to advertise and promote high end luxury goods.[43]

Dainese Archivio edit

The Dainese Archivio (DAR) is a permanent multimedia exhibition in Vicenza opposite the Dainese Headquarters which presents the ideas, people and projects that marked the company's advancements in the fields of safety, sports performance, and design. The collection includes historic Dainese leather racing. Dainese Archivio has educational activities for schools and universities at its DAR Lab.[44][45]

Racing sponsorship edit

Dainese has sponsored racing from its earliest years. One of the first was 15-time World Champion Giacomo Agostini, who began racing in Dainese leathers in 1975.[46] Multiple World Championship winner Valentino Rossi is currently among the best-known racers to wear the brand colors.[47][48] Dainese has sponsored greats like Italian riders Francesco Bagnaia, Stefano Manzi, Andrea Migno and Nicolo Bulega in the Moto2 and Moto3 Championships.[49]

Current edit

Motorcycling edit

 
Valentino Rossi suiting up at the 2009 United States Grand Prix
 
Rossi at the 2014 Grand Prix of the Americas
 
Giacomo Agostini (2003)

Winter sports edit

Cycling edit

Worldwide Stores and Experience Project edit

Dainese has a network of 70 single-brand protective equipment specialist stores for motorcycling and dynamic sports across Europe, North America, and Asia, and also sells direct to the public online through its official e-commerce website dainese.com. A new store concept designed by the Italian architect, Renato Montagner, was launched in 2017 and conceived to also provide a meeting place for dynamic sports enthusiasts to meet and participate in special events and activities.[50]

In 2019, Dainese launched the Dainese Experience project, a series of masterclasses, lessons, long journeys, and weekends where customers can learn how to improve their sports performance.[51]

References edit

  1. ^ "Dainese buy helmet brand AGV". www.visordown.com. 2007-08-15. Retrieved 2017-09-11.
  2. ^ "Investcorp revs up to acquire Dainese". Financial Times. 5 November 2014. Retrieved 2017-09-11.
  3. ^ "Gucci backer agrees first deal in Italy in six years". www.one1info.com (Press release). Archived from the original on 2019-03-21. Retrieved 2017-09-11.
  4. ^ "Dainese appoints Cristiano Silei as new chief executive". Retrieved 15 March 2019.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ "The Carlyle Group – Portfolio of Investments: Dainese". The Carlyle Group. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  6. ^ "Dainese Group acquired by investment firm Carlyle". Cycling Industry News. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  7. ^ Hancocks, Simon (March 17, 2022). "Sold! Dainese acquired by Carlyle Group for €630 million". Visordown. Retrieved 2022-03-17.
  8. ^ "Dainese: A History of Racing and Innovation". www.pinkbike.com. 23 August 2013. Retrieved 2017-09-11.
  9. ^ "Dainese Official Website. – Our History 1972 The First Product". www.dainese.com. Archived from the original on 2017-09-26. Retrieved 2017-09-11.
  10. ^ "Dainese: Pursuing Safety Since 1972". www.ultimatemotorcycling.com. 28 April 2010. Retrieved 2017-09-11.
  11. ^ "Dainese buy helmet brand AGV". www.visordown.com. Retrieved 2017-09-11.
  12. ^ "Investcorp buys Italian safety apparel maker Dainese for $163 mln". Reuters. Retrieved 2017-09-11.
  13. ^ "Il fondo InvestCorp rileva l'80% del capitale di Dainese". Il Sole 24 Ore. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  14. ^ "Investcorp buys protective clothing maker Dainese for $163 million". Reuters. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  15. ^ "Investcorp to start Dainese sport-tech clothing brand sale soon". www.bebeez.it. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  16. ^ "Dainese Official Website: About Us. – Dainese". www.dainese.com. Archived from the original on 2017-09-15. Retrieved 2017-09-11.
  17. ^ "Dainese Custom Works Website. – Dainese". www.dainesecustomworks.com. Retrieved 2017-09-11.
  18. ^ "Dainese Settantadue Brand is born". www.gpone.com. Retrieved 2018-01-12.
  19. ^ "Dainese Launch Retro Fashion Brand, 'Settantadue'". www.bennetts.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-01-12.
  20. ^ "Introducing the Dainese Settantadue Collection". www.motorcyclenews.com. Retrieved 2018-01-12.
  21. ^ "This Wearable Airbag Can Protect Olympic Skiers in High-Speed Crashes". www.wearable-technologies.com. 6 September 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  22. ^ "Dainese, uno scudo per il corpo "Valentino e ora pronti per Marte"". la Repubblica. 6 March 2017. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  23. ^ "Dainese: A History of Racing and Innovation". www.pinkbike.com. 23 August 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  24. ^ "Patents Assigned to Dainese S.p.A." www.patents.justia.com. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  25. ^ MotoCAP (2023). Safety Ratings: Jackets. Available at: https://www.motocap.com.au/products/jackets?f%5B0%5D=brand:Dainese&f%5B1%5D=older_ratings:1&sort_by=safety_rating&sort_order=DESC. (Accessed: 25 June 2023).
  26. ^ "D-Air Dainese. Com'è nato e come funziona l'airbag per motociclisti secondo chi l'ha inventato". www.moto.it. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  27. ^ "Valencia: l'airbag di Dainese in azione". www.motocorse.com. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  28. ^ "L'airbag Dainese D-Air protegge anche gli sciatori della Coppa del Mondo". www.motociclismo.it. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  29. ^ "Houston, We Have a Problem Meet the Man Making Spacesuits to Stop The Growth of Astronauts' Spines in Outer Space". mpora.com. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  30. ^ "Dainese, D-Air LAB and ENEL develop an airbag to protect staff in the workplace". www.dainese.com (Press release). Archived from the original on 29 March 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  31. ^ "Dainese, D-Air Lab Ed Enel Sviluppano L'airbag Per La Protezione Dei Lavoratori". www.enel.com (Press release). Archived from the original on 29 March 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  32. ^ "Dainese, le protezioni che hanno aiutato i kiwi a vincere la Coppa!". www.velaemotore.it. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  33. ^ "Dainese, il Trauma Team di Niguarda e il primo studio in Italia sui motociclisti". www.moto.it. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  34. ^ Premio Compasso d'oro[circular reference]
  35. ^ a b "The Dainese Group Receives Three Red Dot Design Awards". www.dainese.com. Archived from the original on 29 March 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  36. ^ "Good Design Award". www.g-mark.org. Japan Institute of Design Promotion. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  37. ^ "Best of the Best: #Idsaidea 2017 Gold And Silver Winning Product Designs Are Unveiled". www.dainese.com. 14 August 2017. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  38. ^ "Good Design Award". www.g-mark.org. Japan Institute of Design Promotion. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  39. ^ "Dainese earns the 2017 Compasso d'Oro". www.dainese.com. Archived from the original on 29 March 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  40. ^ "Dainese fa il bis con il Red Dot Design Award". www.inmoto.it. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  41. ^ "Good Design Award". www.g-mark.org. Japan Institute of Design Promotion. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  42. ^ a b "ISPO Awards". www.dainese.com. Archived from the original on 29 March 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  43. ^ "Moda, Dainese entra in Altagamma". www.affaritaliani.it. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  44. ^ "New Dainese ARchivio Exhibition Opening In Vicenza". blog.motorcycle.com. 8 June 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  45. ^ "Dainese inaugura Dar, il suo archivio storico". www.insella.it. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  46. ^ "Dainese Reveals 115 Years Anniversario Collection". www.autoevolution.com. 28 April 2017. Retrieved 2017-09-11.
  47. ^ "Under the skin of Rossi's Dainese leathers". www.motorcyclenews.com. Retrieved 2017-09-11.
  48. ^ "Is Valentino Rossi the Greatest of All Time?". www.motorcyclenews.com. Retrieved 2017-09-11.
  49. ^ "Dainese and AGV are the official sponsors of the Sky Racing Team VR46". Dainese. 10 February 2017. Archived from the original on 21 October 2019. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  50. ^ "Dainese presenta nuovo concept retail". www.pambianconews.com. 11 April 2017. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  51. ^ "Dainese Experience: Dainese VR46 Class in Misano with Vale". www.cyclenews.com. Retrieved 15 March 2019.

External links edit

 
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