History

The first years

Since his start Ubaldo worked hard, from pain to joy, he always took the bit between his teeth. He was part of a peculiar and big family. The father “babbo Carlo” was a carpenter, the mother passed away suddenly at 36 when Ubaldo was four. Among his siblings, he was the youngest and therefore the only one that remained with the father until Carlo Elli remarried to Regina, an Italian born in Alsace, and the family could be reunited. The economic situation was not happy but Ubaldo had many talents and unending energy. He worked as an artistry carpenter, baker, and pastry chef. He loved painting, music, fast motorcycles and for sure he was not unmoved by the feminine charm.

A match made in heaven

At 18 he met Elide, the daughter of a greengrocer of Busto Arsizio. After 8 years of engagement, they married on the 1st of May 1954, Workers Day, the only day they both could afford, the only day they did not have to work. A match made in heaven considering their strong characters and stubbornness. Their marriage lasted more than 60 years. Their children, are more patient and calm perhaps to compensate for the parents’ exuberance.

Elly

In the first years of marriage, Ubaldo rolled up his sleeve. In 1958, between a bridge game and an afternoon fishing, Ubaldo, Saverio Mayer, and other brigade companions formed a society “by a handshake and not by contract”. It was dedicated to a new type of thights produced with tubular machines, that completely oust the traditional pantyhose with the sewing visible in the back.
After five years Ubaldo was the only one taking care of the new business, he successfully took over the share of the other shareholder and found the hosiery: Elly. The “y” was meant to bring more international and commercial impact, it was the first step towards a successful future.
In the 70s Elly became a real brand synonym of high-quality socks and tights and once the hosiery was structured and successful, Ubaldo came back to the 2-wheels not only as a rider but as a collectionist as well.