Fashion
OTB marks 20 years of Diesel in China, opens new APAC headquarters in Shanghai
Published
October 17, 2025
Only The Brave reaffirms its long-term commitment to China with three initiatives that underscore the importance of the Chinese market for the international fashion and luxury group, which brings together the brands Diesel, Jil Sander, Maison Margiela, Marni, Viktor&Rolf, and the companies Staff International and Brave Kid, and holds a stake in the Amiri brand. In addition, founder Renzo Rosso says he will invest further in China.
The first initiative is the official opening of its new APAC headquarters in Shanghai, a region where OTB now has 900 employees and around 100 stores, spread across China, Hong Kong, and Macao. Attending the inauguration ceremony, alongside the group’s founder, Renzo Rosso, were the Consul General of Italy in Shanghai Tiziana D’Angelo and Shanghai’s Jing’an District authorities.
The new headquarters boasts double the space of its previous address and is located in the Lee Gardens building. Nestled in the heart of the city’s Jing’an District, it overlooks the scenic Suzhou Creek. According to a statement, the location and expansion of the offices reflect the group’s desire to strengthen its roots in China, as well as to offer the team increasingly modern and functional workspaces and to consolidate relationships with local partners.
The second initiative during Renzo Rosso’s visit to China was a talk for students at Donghua University, one of Asia’s most prestigious design and fashion universities, organised under the patronage of the Consulate General of Italy, Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana, Altagamma, the Italian Trade Agency, and the Italian Cultural Institute.
For its third initiative, as 2025 marks the 20th anniversary of Diesel’s presence in China, where the brand has built a recognisable and coherent presence, an event was organised at the Fosun Foundation in Shanghai. The highlight of the event was the launch of a capsule collection titled “Diesel China 20th Anniversary”, designed by Creative Director Glenn Martens.
“China is a country with a unique energy; every time I come back here I am fascinated by its pace, creativity and speed,” said Renzo Rosso. “For our group, China is not only a strategic market, but an inexhaustible source of inspiration. Over the past two decades, we have expanded the presence of our brands and built an authentic dialogue with new generations who share the values of our brands. Our philosophy is to collaborate with local communities to merge brand know-how with the local mindset. The opening of the new Shanghai headquarters, meeting with young talent at Donghua University, and the celebrations of Diesel’s 20th anniversary represent a special moment for me and for the OTB Group […] We will continue to invest in China in the future.”
Shortly before the evening event in Shanghai, Rosso told Reuters that these investments in China will be made by his group despite the decline in the local market, and will take the form of a reorganisation of OTB’s retail presence. The entrepreneur revealed that some stores will be closed, but others will be opened in new and better locations.
“I am optimistic. I think that if the Chinese market continues to proceed in this way, it could represent an opportunity, because we will be able to have better spaces at better prices, which wasn’t the case before,” Rosso told Reuters. “My current vision is to invest in the country. I believe in China; it’s so big, so important. We are doing well this year compared to the market,” he added. “Everyone is in decline; we have some growth, so we are quite satisfied.”
Over the years, the Veneto-based group has supported numerous initiatives and collaborations in China that have connected the creativity and values of its brands with designers, artists and local communities. Notable among these are the “Marni Miao” project, which celebrated the elegance and complexity of embroidery by reinterpreting the codes of the Miao minority through a contemporary lens, as well as the various capsule collections that Diesel has created in collaboration with Chinese designers such as Xander Zhou and Pronounce and celebrities such as William Chan and Chris Lee, along with events and music tours with local artists.
In addition, Maison Margiela has brought its experimental vision into dialogue with the country’s contemporary art and culture through new retail formats, pop-ups, installations and initiatives in different cities, while MM6 Maison Margiela has collaborated with designer Chen Peng.
In addition, OTB has long supported the new generation of Chinese talent. Renzo Rosso has in fact served on the jury of the BoF China Prize in 2019 and supported the launch of the Yu Prize competition, providing mentorship and coaching to support and develop the country’s young designers.
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Published
December 12, 2025
The historic outdoor event organised by Messe München ISPO took place in Bavaria for the final time, from November 30 to December 2. It gave ISPO the chance to present a final series of awards before its move to Amsterdam, where the trade show will be held from 2026.
This edition of the ISPO Awards was defined by three main criteria: circularity, multifunctionality, and technology. The winners were selected by an international jury and divided into several categories.
Comfortable, versatile products
In the Running/Trail Running category, gold went to The North Face for its Summit Vectiv™ Pro 3 shoe, recognised for its carbon plates, nitrogen-infused foam, and comfort. Completing the top five were Outopia (Vita Shell Jacket), Decathlon Kiprun (Kipnext shoe), Nedao (HexRise Active Running Long Sleeve T-shirt), and Mizuno (BreathDry Shell Jacket).
The contest in the Mountaineering/Climbing category was won by Ohmega, Edelrid’s lightweight assisted-braking belay device. Its three-stage braking system, integrated pulley and suitability for all rope teams played an important role in this success. Edelrid and its Ohmega were followed by Blackyak with the Javari Suit, The North Face with the Summit 5050 AMK Hoodie, Mammut with the Crag Recycled Classic Rope, and Blackyak with the Watusi Light Suit.
Lightness, a key element in sports equipment
In the Hiking division, Rab’s Syclon XP 40 pack took top spot, thanks to its low weight, waterproofing and body-hugging Aerofit carrying system. Completing the top five were Kathmandu (XT Series Pack 40 backpack and Women’s XT Series Hybrid Octa Fleece Hooded Jacket), Rab again with its Mythic -6 down sleeping bag, and Simond with its MT900 ultralight backpack.
Mammut’s Eiger Free Pro HS Bib Pants took first place in the Snow Sports category, thanks to their technical sophistication and durability. Helly Hansen (Sogn Patrol Shell jacket) and Elan (ACE GSX FX skis) completed the podium, followed by Pelliot with its The Limit Series One-Piece Down Coat.
Eco-responsibility, a must at the ISPO Awards
In the Lifestyle/Athleisure category, Impetus outpaced its rivals with the ImNatura T-shirt, recognised for its eco-friendly credentials. It finished ahead of Reima and its BugProof Hoodie Surista, Peak Performance and its R&D Helium Loop jacket, Bosideng and its 3-in-1 Smart Layering Kids Down Jacket, and Peak Design and its Roller Pro suitcase.
First prize in the Camping/Vanlife category went to Simond and its Single Wall Trekking Tent 2P UL Condensless, praised for its light weight and material efficiency. Simond was followed by Robens with the LightCore UL 3.1R Regular sleeping mat, Dometic with the Dometic CFX5 series cooler, Acebeam with the Keylight 500 torch, then Robens again with the Scoria Quilt UL +6°C Regular sleeping bag.
Versatile sports products are in vogue
Among the contenders in the Cycling/Commuting category, Bosideng took the gold award for the versatility and recycled materials used in its Circular Design Fashion and Functional Puffer jacket. Next came BBB Cycling with its BackStreet LED ERT helmet, Qiaodan with its Carbon Reduction Intelligent Wearable Luminous Riding Windbreaker, then Flectr with its Cargo Mate handlebar.
To bring this edition to a close, first prize in the Multisports category went to Helly Hansen for its Arctic Shield Pro Boot HT, whose technical capabilities won over the jury. The Norwegian brand finished ahead of Viking with its QuikGo GTX SL children’s shoe, Polartec with its AirCore x Montura Ritmo PTC AirCore Hooded Anorak, Acemate with its Tennis Robot, and EGGspander with its Your GYM ToGo! muscle-strengthening tool.
Future developments for the European Outdoor Group
This series of awards brought the last ISPO in Munich to a close, after fifty years in the Bavarian capital. The European Outdoor Group (EOG) took the opportunity to unveil the roadmap for its transformation programme, built around communications commitments (public relations, marketing, member recruitment) and events (ISPO, Outdoor Impact Summit and EOG Week) focused on environmental, social and regulatory issues.
EOG’s future also lies in data management, according to its director, Christian Schneidermeier. The association will be developing its Outdoor Market Intelligence Service (OMIS) market analysis tool, implemented by Sporting Insights, and plans to roll it out in Germany this month and in France in early 2026, following a successful launch in the UK. For the time being, OMIS covers three million product references in its database, across 2,000 physical points of sale. According to EOG, the tool represents over €5 billion (2023–2025) in value and includes 1,000 brands represented.
EOG also plans to develop the Sustainability Data Exchange (SDEX) and a European retail directory, and to produce annual market reports, along with complementary projects. The aim is to make EOG a complementary player to ISPO, and to strengthen the European outdoor industry.
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