Ennio De Rigo, co-founder and chairman of the Italian international eyewear design and distribution company which bears his name, has been awarded the prestigious ‘Cavaliere del Lavoro’, the Italian Order of Merit for Labour. Founded in 1923, it is awarded to those "who have been singularly meritorious" in agriculture, industry and commerce, crafts, lending and insurance.
The acknowledgement honours the important contribution to employment and development made by De Rigo over the years, notably the company’s commitment to its local community and young people experiencing hardship. The recent establishment of Fondazione De Rigo supporting Italy’s youth, marked the company’s 40th anniversary this year.
“I am honoured to receive the title,” said Ennio De Rigo. “My company has always been like an extension of my family to me, and I am proud to say that thanks to everyone’s hard work, I have made our name known all over the world, maintaining the values and roots of our family and our community. I firmly believe in the importance of people and relationships, which come first for me. I cannot help sharing this prestigious acknowledgement with all the people who have made my career in business an extraordinary group voyage with the hard work and dedication they put into their work every day”.
In 1978, Ennio together with brother Walter and wife Emiliana, founded a little workshop making sunglasses and prescription glasses. Over the next four decades it grew to become the well-known brand De Rigo, acquiring other companies such as Lozza eyewear and launching the Police and Sting brands. The company’s factory and headquarters is based in Longarone, Italy, serving more than 80 countries, employing more than 3,000 employees and turning over 429.5 million euros in 2017.
