Dainese
Italian protective-equipment and technical-gear brand for motorcycling and other dynamic sports.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Dainese is an Italian protective-equipment and technical-apparel brand founded by Lino Dainese in 1972 in Molvena, in the Vicenza area of Italy. It began with motocross trousers and developed through a close relationship with motorcycle racing, where the company used competition as a test environment for improved protection, ergonomics, materials and rider mobility. Its core business remains premium motorcycle equipment, including leather racing suits, jackets, trousers, gloves, boots, protectors, helmets and electronically controlled airbag systems. Helmets are sold through the AGV brand, which Dainese acquired in 2007. The company has expanded beyond motorcycling into mountain biking, skiing, snow sports, horse riding and other activities in which impact protection, movement and environmental exposure are important. Its products may be sold ready-made, made-to-measure or custom-made, and use materials such as cowhide, kangaroo leather, aramid, carbon fibre and titanium. Dainese has also developed technical products for applications outside sport, including work-at-height safety garments and research garments for aerospace and spaceflight. Technology is central to the brand’s identity. Dainese’s D-Tec and Dainese Technology Center activities have supported the development of protective materials, impact-management systems and wearable technologies. The best-known result is D-air, an electronically triggered airbag platform whose development began in the 1990s, whose racing prototype was tested in 2000, and whose first official race activation occurred in MotoGP practice in 2007. A racing product reached the market in 2011, followed by road and winter-sport versions. The company has also worked with medical researchers to study motorcycle injuries and translate findings into protective-equipment design. Dainese’s corporate development has included acquisitions and diversification. The 2007 purchase of AGV broadened the group’s helmet business. Investcorp acquired a controlling interest in 2014 while Lino Dainese retained a minority position, and The Carlyle Group acquired Investcorp’s stake in 2022. Reference material also reports a 2025 transfer of the business to Carlyle creditors after substantial debt; the precise legal and operating consequences are not sufficiently established here, so the current ownership and status are marked for review. The brand operates through specialist stores, regional offices and direct online sales. It has maintained Italian research, development and design activities while serving customers internationally. Dainese’s visibility has been strengthened by long-running motorcycle-racing sponsorships, including relationships with Giacomo Agostini, Valentino Rossi and later generations of Moto2 and Moto3 riders. Its reputation combines Italian design, racing credibility, technical innovation and premium positioning. The Dainese Archivio exhibition in Vicenza preserves the company’s history, products and research projects, while the Dainese Experience programme extends the brand into customer education, riding activities and performance-oriented events.
History
Lino Dainese founded the company in 1972 at the age of 20 in Molvena, Vicenza, initially producing protective motocross trousers. Motorcycle racing became the company’s principal development laboratory, and Dainese built its reputation by combining leather apparel with articulated protection, improved fit and materials intended to reduce injury while preserving rider movement. Giacomo Agostini began racing in Dainese leathers in 1975, helping establish the brand’s association with elite competition. The company gradually expanded from racing suits into jackets, trousers, gloves, boots, protectors and accessories. It also developed technical collaborations and research programmes focused on the human body in motion and the consequences of crashes. The Dainese Advanced Research Program, conducted with trauma specialists at Milan’s Niguarda hospital from 2013, examined motorcycle injuries to inform product design. Dainese’s technology activities later supported applications beyond motorcycling, including worker safety, sailing and aerospace. A major corporate milestone came in July 2007, when Dainese acquired AGV, the Italian helmet manufacturer. AGV became the group’s helmet brand, while Dainese remained the principal name for suits and other protective equipment. In the same broad period, the company’s research produced D-air, an electronic airbag system. Development began in 1995, a working racing prototype was tested in 2000, and the system was activated during an official MotoGP practice crash in 2007. The racing version entered the market in 2011, followed by road-use and winter-sport products. Investcorp acquired a controlling interest in the group in 2014, with Lino Dainese retaining a minority stake. Under this ownership, the group continued international expansion and product diversification. Reported revenue rose from €117 million in 2013 to €184.7 million in 2017, while reported employee numbers increased from 609 to 757 between those reference points. These financial figures are historical and should not be treated as current performance indicators. Dainese maintained Italian design and research centres and established regional offices in California and Hong Kong. Diversification included the Settantadue motorcycle-fashion line, mountain-bike equipment, ski apparel, horse-riding products and technical garments for non-sport applications. D-airlab worked with ENEL and researchers in Bologna on a Safety Jacket for workers exposed to falls or impacts. Dainese also collaborated with Emirates Team New Zealand on Sea-Guard, a sailing garment combining flotation and impact protection. In aerospace, Dainese-related researchers worked on the BioSuit concept and the SkinSuit, which was tested aboard the International Space Station by Andreas Mogensen in 2015 and Thomas Pesquet in 2016. In 2022, The Carlyle Group acquired Investcorp’s stake and became the majority shareholder. Reference material subsequently reports a debt-related transfer to Carlyle creditors in 2025, but the available account does not establish the company’s current legal ownership, financial condition or operating status. Dainese’s public identity remains associated with premium protective equipment, racing sponsorship, technical research, Italian design and a global specialist retail and online network. The Dainese Archivio in Vicenza documents the brand’s products, people and technical projects and provides educational activities through DAR Lab.
- 2022
Carlyle becomes majority shareholder
[1]The Carlyle Group acquired Investcorp’s stake in Dainese.
- 2017
Settantadue line and worker-safety projects
[1]Dainese added the Settantadue motorcycle-fashion line and developed the Safety Jacket with ENEL and Italian research partners.
- 2015
First road D-air standalone jacket
[1]Dainese introduced the Misano 1000, described as its first standalone road jacket incorporating D-air Street.
- 2015
SkinSuit tested on the International Space Station
[1]ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen tested the Dainese SkinSuit during the iriss mission.
- 2014
Investcorp takes control
[1]Investcorp acquired a controlling interest while the founder retained a minority position.
- 2011
Racing D-air reaches the market
[1]The first Dainese D-air racing product was commercialised.
- 2007
AGV acquired and D-air activated in MotoGP practice
[1]Dainese acquired AGV and D-air activated for the first time in an official race setting during MotoGP practice.
- 2000
D-air racing prototype tested
[1]A working D-air prototype was tested on a racetrack.
- 1995
D-air development begins
[1]Dainese began developing its electronically actuated motorcycle airbag technology.
- 1975
Early association with Giacomo Agostini
[1]Fifteen-time world champion Giacomo Agostini began racing in Dainese leathers, strengthening the brand’s racing identity.
Products and positioning
Premium Italian protective equipment combining motorcycle-racing expertise, advanced impact protection, technical materials, performance ergonomics and design.
Motorcycle protective apparel
Dainese motorcycle racing suits
Dainese’s racing suits are designed for high-speed circuit use and combine leather construction with articulated armour, replaceable sliders, aerodynamic features and compatibility with airbag systems. Mugello models represent the premium end of the racing range and have been used as platforms for the company’s fit, protection and materials research. Suits may be offered off the rack, made to measure or custom made.
Electronic airbag protection · 2011
D-air
D-air is Dainese’s electronically actuated airbag platform. It was developed for motorcycle racing and later adapted for road riding and winter sports. Sensors and control electronics detect crash conditions and trigger inflation to provide additional protection around vulnerable areas. The platform is available in integrated racing equipment and standalone or garment-based products, although exact configurations vary by product generation.
Motorcycle helmets · 2007
AGV helmets
AGV is Dainese Group’s helmet brand, acquired in 2007. Its range serves racing, road, touring and other motorcycle applications. AGV products complement Dainese suits and apparel within the group’s head-to-toe protective-equipment proposition.
Impact protection
Pro-Armor protectors
Pro-Armor is a family of flexible impact protectors used in motorcycle apparel and related equipment. The design emphasis is on balancing shock absorption, ventilation and freedom of movement. The product received several design awards in 2017, including Red Dot, Good Design and ADI Compasso d’Oro recognition according to the reference material.
Motorcycle fashion apparel · 2017
Settantadue
Settantadue, named after the Italian word for seventy-two, is a motorcycle-fashion line introduced by Dainese in 2017. It extends the brand’s design language into apparel intended to combine everyday styling with motorcycle-oriented protection and functionality.
Aerospace technical garment · 2015
Dainese SkinSuit
The SkinSuit is a close-fitting garment developed for use inside the International Space Station. It applies controlled head-to-foot loading intended to counter some effects of microgravity and reduce risks associated with spinal unloading. ESA astronauts tested it during missions in 2015 and 2016.
Marketing campaigns
- 2019Dainese Experience
Europe · North America · Asia
Dainese launched an experience programme built around masterclasses, lessons, long-distance journeys and sport-focused weekends. The initiative positioned stores and the brand as community and education hubs rather than only retail locations.
Outcome. Ongoing programme described in reference material.
- 2017Worldwide Stores and Experience retail concept
Europe · North America · Asia
Dainese introduced a store concept intended to combine specialist protective-equipment retail with a meeting place for dynamic-sports enthusiasts and event activities.
Outcome. A global specialist-store network and direct e-commerce channel were described.
Brand decisions
2022
Transfer of majority ownership to The Carlyle GroupM&ABackground
Investcorp had controlled the business since 2014.
Action taken
The Carlyle Group acquired Investcorp’s stake and became majority shareholder.
Aftermath
Dainese entered a new private-equity ownership phase; subsequent debt-related reports require further verification.
2017
Diversify into dynamic sports and technical applicationsStrategyBackground
Dainese was applying motorcycle-derived protection technologies to adjacent sports and occupational use.
Action taken
The group expanded into mountain biking, skiing, horse riding, worker safety and sailing-related garments while continuing motorcycle development.
Aftermath
The brand’s scope broadened from motorcycle apparel into a wider dynamic-sports and technical-gear portfolio.
2015
Launch of the Misano 1000 road D-air jacketProduct launchBackground
Dainese aimed to extend electronically triggered airbag protection beyond professional circuit racing.
Action taken
The company introduced the Misano 1000, described as its first standalone road jacket using D-air Street.
Aftermath
The launch expanded D-air into consumer road riding.
2011
Commercial launch of racing D-airProduct launchBackground
Years of racing development and track testing had produced an electronically triggered airbag platform.
Action taken
Dainese launched a racing version of D-air for the market.
Aftermath
D-air became a defining technology platform and was later adapted for road and winter-sport use.
2007
Acquire AGVM&ABackground
Dainese sought to broaden its protective-equipment portfolio into helmets.
Action taken
The group acquired Italian helmet manufacturer AGV and retained AGV as the helmet-facing brand.
Aftermath
The acquisition created a broader head-to-toe motorcycle-protection offering.
Recent events
Dainese unveils Smart GO airbag[3]
Reported:
Dainese unveiled the Smart GO, an entry-level airbag system designed for everyday street riding. The article reports a U.S. price of $409 but says Dainese had not confirmed U.S. availability.
Dainese acquires TCX[4]
Reported:
Italian motorcycle riding gear maker Dainese acquired motorcycle boot manufacturer TCX.
Sources4 sources
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