The patriarch
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View of Piazza del Duomo in Milan - Luigi Premazzi (1846)
Born into a family of craftsmen, in the
heart of the Lombard countryside,
Rocco Franzi learned the art of carpentry
at a young age.
He specialized in creating sturdy and well-crafted
trunks that accompanied travelers of the time on their
long journeys by train and ship
Interior of the laboratory, Vicolo dei Facchini 2 - Milan
Rocco’s fate took an unexpected turn with the
advent of the Industrial Revolution. Rocco saw
the opportunities that new technologies and the
development of transportation represented.
Thus, Rocco decided to move his
business to Milan. It was on Via
dell’Arcivescovado that Rocco put
down roots, bringing with him the
ancient craft of his family and a
desire for innovation.
Among his most daring and
appreciated creations was the
“Leggerissimo” (the “Ultralight”) trunk,
a true symbol of Rocco’s visionary
spirit: designed to minimize the weight
of travelers’ luggage, it was made by
combining wood and leather.
The “Leggerissimo” became Franzi’s first best-seller,
determining both the initial success of the company
and the transformation of the family from carpenters to
leather makers.
