Thursday 28 March, at the age of 85, Cosimo Romano has died, originally from Matino (Lecce). But the memory of brand he founded, Meltin’ Pot, will continue to live. Launched in 1994, Meltin’ Pot, a clothing and jeans brand, was born as an expansion of Romano spa. This group, which bore the surname of Cosimo Romano, dates back to the late 1960s, when the owner embarked on his successful journey in textiles with a family-run structure. Since then, Romano marked a point of no return in the market, expanding beyond the borders of Salento. And making his land known beyond the boot. In fact, his brand soon became known in the United States too. But not only: Romano also opened a shop in Hungary, in Budapest, and one in Russia, in Moscow.
Romano’s story told in “The scent of success”
This climb was also told in the book «The perfume of success» (Besa), written by Cosimo Romano himself with Pantaleone Pagliula. A text which, through the voices of Romano and Pagliula, then president of the federation of cooperatives of Lecce, testifies to «the ability to look into the distance and imagine a future when no one yet sees it», together with the courage to chase a dream and the tenacity of persevere, on the one hand remaining faithful to one’s roots, on the other by looking elsewhere. Between the Eighties and Nineties, when many emigrated in search of better opportunities in other areas of Italy or abroad, in fact, Cosimo Romano created a solid structure which had Salento and its Matino as its base of action.
Condolences for the death of the entrepreneur
There are countless messages in which Cosimo Romano is remembered both inside and outside social media. «Today a great man died. An entrepreneur from the South. Cosimo Romano was the founder of one of the most important street fashion and jeans wear experiences in Italy, certainly the most important, if not only, in the South, the Meltin’ Pot”, writes a user. And he adds: «he built a denim empire from scratch that went so far as to sell jeans in the USA and make giants like Levi’s tremble». Confindustria Lecce also remembered Cosimo Romano. «His vision, his determination and his commitment have contributed significantly to relaunching the textile industry – he wrote on his social channels. In addition to his professional successes, we will always remember Cosimo Romano for his generosity, his kindness and his dedication to the community. He was an inspirational leader and a trusted friend to many entrepreneurs, who will always remember him with affection and esteem. He leaves an important legacy to the new generations and a void in the hearts of those who had the privilege of knowing him and working with him.”
