Dainese

Dainese is an Italian maker of protective gear and clothing for motorcycling and other dynamic sports. Lino Dainese founded it in 1972 in Molvena near Vicenza, and the first article was a pair of motocross trousers. The company is headquartered in the Vicenza area, has more than 1,200 employees and sells in 96 countries through wholesale partners, 46 own stores and e-commerce. The group's brands are Dainese and the helmet maker AGV.

Features

The range covers motorcycle jackets, trousers, gloves, boots, race suits and protectors, from leather racing gear to waterproof Gore-Tex touring clothing. Dainese is known for its D-air airbag systems, which it describes as the first ultra-rapid airbag suits and jackets for motorcycling that need no sensors mounted on the vehicle. Beyond motorcycles it makes protection for alpine skiing, mountain biking and competitive sailing, and it has built a suit for the International Space Station.

Ownership

Since its founding Dainese has changed hands several times: Lino Dainese sold the majority to the investment firm Investcorp, later the Carlyle group became an owner. On 28 January 2026 HPS Investment Partners, which is part of BlackRock (USA), and Arcmont Asset Management, an affiliate of Nuveen, the asset manager of TIAA (USA), closed the acquisition of 100 percent of Dainese S.p.A. after European Commission approval. Because the owners are based in the USA, the product carries the notice about a non-European parent.