Federico Marchetti
THE GEEK OF CHIC
An American Dream Italian Style
Le avventure di un innovatore. Il sogno americano, tutto italiano, del fondatore di Yoox.
Book presentation with Mauro Aprile Zanetti
Wednesday, Febuary 4 | 6:30 PM
Event open to the public | Registration required
At the turn of the millennium, when the internet was still a novelty, Federico Marchetti envisioned the future. In The Adventures of an Innovator, co-written with journalist Daniela Hamaui, he recounts his journey from studying in the U.S. to founding YOOX in Italy. His simple yet revolutionary idea—selling unsold designer fashion online—led to the world’s first fashion e-commerce platform. From a warehouse near Bologna, YOOX grew into a global success and Italy’s first “unicorn,” driven by digital innovation, creativity, and a strong commitment to sustainability. Innovation also led Marchetti to collaborate with leaders in fashion, technology, and sustainability, including initiatives that harness technology and AI to address the climate crisis.
ABOUT
FEDERICO MARCHETTI
Federico Marchetti is a tech entrepreneur and a pioneer in sustainable fashion.
In 2000 he founded YOOX, the world’s first lifestyle e-commerce destination; YOOX was listed on the Milan Stock Exchange in 2009 and became the first unicorn in Italy. In 2015 Marchetti led the merger of YOOX and Net-a-Porter, creating YNAP – the global leader in online luxury fashion.
After 21 years leading the company he founded, Marchetti has now channelled his expertise and drive into sustainability and innovation within the fashion industry.
He has been a Board Member of Giorgio Armani S.p.A. since 2020.
He is Chair of King Charles III’s Sustainable Markets Initiative Fashion Task Force, and continues to promote innovative projects such as the Digital Product Passport and regenerative agriculture programmes. Marchetti is also a Trustee of The King’s Foundation and of the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance, and a Member of the Board of Directors of Highgrove Gardens.
In 2017 he was knighted as Cavaliere del Lavoro by the President of the Italian Republic, and in 2019 he was honoured with the amfAR Award of Courage.
MAURO APRILE ZANETTI
Mauro Aprile Zanetti, also known as MAZ, is a multifaceted and deeply engaged figure in the San Francisco Bay Area. Active in philanthropy and technology, with a strong background in film, art, and literature, he currently holds two key roles: Chief Business Evangelist at Cloud4Wi, an international technology scale-up where he promotes a humanistic approach to innovation, and Global Brand and Philanthropy Strategist at the Manetti Shrem Foundation, where he leads social impact initiatives on a global scale. A leading figure in Northern California’s cultural, innovative, and entrepreneurial landscape, MAZ is a published author in multiple languages and serves as an American liaison for Italy in the United States. He collaborated closely with Lawrence Ferlinghetti—the legendary poet, activist, and publisher of the Beat Generation—until his passing and has also played a key role in disseminating the work of Federico Faggin, a Silicon Valley pioneer. Through his work with patron Maria Manetti Shrem, he contributes to philanthropic initiatives across academic, artistic, musical, and medical fields, overseeing more than 60 programs with over 45 foundations worldwide. He is a member of the Advisory Board of the UC Davis Manetti Shrem Museum of Art and serves as Global Brand and Philanthropy Officer of Festival Napa Valley, a nonprofit organization dedicated to “making art and education accessible to all.”