Luisa Spagnoli

What do the 1920s, world-famous Perugina chocolate, angora rabbits and high-end tailoring have in common? One woman, Luisa Spagnoli. During the early years of the 20th century, she founded two of Italy's most famous companies - the candy factory Perugina and the women's clothing company that bears her name. Teeming with entrepreneurial spirit and endowed with extraordinary modernity and creativity, she established herself as a leading businesswoman and visionary. In an environment unfriendly to women in a position of power, she found alliances and gained the respect of many, especially that of her loyal employees. During World War I she kept her candy factory open, maintaining critical employment for women with families whose husbands were at war. No hardship was too difficult for her to overcome, except perhaps having to give up the man she loved.