Throwing Shades The Story Of Leonardo Del Vecchio

For many people in the world, their pair of sunglasses are more valuable than their cell phone, wallet, and in extreme cases their children, but for one man, sunglasses means the world. From an orphaned Italian boy to one of the most successful Italian businessmen ever, the story of Leonardo Del Vecchio's rise is truly a fascinating look at how the world can try it’s best to keep you down but with true perseverance, anything can be achieved.

THE RIGHT TOOLS FOR THE JOB

Born to an impoverished family on the 22nd of May 1935 in Milan, Leonardo Del Vecchio faced a tough child before he was even born. Del Vecchio’s father passed away five month before he was born, and due to their impoverished stature his mother tried her best to look after the young boy, yet at the age of seven, she had no choice but to send him to an orphanage as he would have a better chance of surviving there than dying of hunger under her care. Understandably living in an orphanage was tough on Del Vecchio and at the age of 14, he had no choice but to find work and carve out a life for himself on the streets of Milan. He eventually found work as an apprentice to a tool and die maker in Milan, an opportunity he still fondly looks back to even to this day. He found he had a knack for metalworking and flourished under his newfound passion. He would continue working for the tool and die maker for many years, fine-tuning his skill and learning everything he can.