MaxMara began when Achille Maramotti graduated from law school and decided to follow his great-grandmother’s footsteps in haute couture. Achille Maramotti desired to combine high quality fashion, which was usually made by hand at that time, with manufactured women’s clothing. His first collection was a blend of French’s design with Italian style. Achille Maramotti’s desire to bring high quality and design to the customer but at more reasonable price has led to the brand’s success with their ready-to-wear products.

Today MaxMara is one of the largest women clothing manufacturers in Italy, with more than 1240 shops in 90 countries and $153 million dollars in revenue during 2008. Achille Maramotti was listed by Forbes in 2005, the year he passed away, as one of the world’s richest men.

MaxMara is well known for its classic cuts, luxurious materials, and knitwear.

• Max Mara is the company’s first and most famous brand, specializing in high-end ready-to-wear women clothes. Aside from its ready-to-wear line, Max Mara also produces eyewear, fragrances, handbags, shoes, and hosiery.

• Sportmax is a line for younger women’s clothes with lower price.

• Sportsmax Code is the company’s brand for casual wear.

• Weekend is the lower-priced apparel with less expensive fabrics.

• Pianoforte is the company’s brand specializing in evening wear.

• Marina Rinaldi is the company’s brand for plus size women clothings.

Throughout sixty years in the industry, Max Mara collections have been designed by some of the most famous fashion designers in the industry, including Karl Lagerfeld, Luciano Soprani, Lison Bonfis, Graziella Fontana, Emanuelle Khan, Anne Marie Beretta, Nanni Strada, Guy Paulin, Jacques Delahaye, Jean Charles de Castelbajac, and also many young designers.

Laura Lusuardi is the fashion coordinator of the Max Mara group who has been working for the company since 1964.

Today, the team behind the collection’s success is not made known to the public.