Stone Island

Stone Island

What unites British ultras, novelist Joseph Conrad and the richest rappers on the planet? Why has an inconspicuous wind rose patch become a sign of premium status? How did yachting jackets compete with the couture collections of Valentino and Gucci? To answer all these questions, it is worth learning the history of Stone Island.

It all started with Massimo Osti, an Italian designer, fashion revolutionary and incorrigible romantic. It was he who, in 1982, created a small collection of cotton canvas jackets called Colombo of Gallarate for his company CP Company.

Today, virtually everything associated with the brand is based in Italy. The company is headquartered in Bologna, with production in Modena. Technological fabrics, for which Stone Island is so famous in Ukraine and abroad, are also of Italian origin. For example, the unique material Raso Gommato is produced at the production of ITS-Artea in the vicinity of Milan, and parachute silk was developed at the factory in Como.

Running on Waves: The brand's DNA

"Ston Island" could have become just another one of hundreds of casual wear brands if it weren't for Massimo Osti's personality and his absolute love of nature, adventure and brutal materials. Osti took the risk of going against fashion by embracing a philosophy that is not universally understood, and that's what has allowed Stone Island to be timeless.

Ostie's idea was simple - to create clothes as versatile and practical as sailors' uniforms. Real armor for modern knights, ready for both a sudden adventure on their own yacht and survival after a nuclear blast. According to Lorenzo, Osti's son, the designer studied military uniforms extensively - he was inspired by their functionality and lack of decoration.

When choosing fabrics for the jackets, Massimo was interested in the material's ability to "resist" the elements. He was inspired by sea voyages and extreme adversity - the centerpiece of the collection was to be a fabric that could withstand sunlight, rain and the spray of a raging ocean. Over time, in addition to the practicality and "unbreakability" of clothes, designers began to pay attention to other technologies. This is how the brand came to include:

• Ice Jacket - heat-resistant fabric that changes its color depending on the air temperature.
• Oltre - glossy nylon on one side that is impervious to moisture and cold, but allows air to pass through.
• Kevlar is a fabric that has been used successfully by astronauts, racers, and military personnel alike. Stone Island's specialty was the combination of para-aramid fiber with a fine nylon mesh and polyurethane layer.
• Micro Reps is a high-density nylon with a sophisticated double-dye finish.
• Reflective Jacket - material with reflective properties.
• Raso Gommato - original cotton satin covered with a polyurethane layer.
• Tank Shield - polyester jackets laminated on the inside, with seams as invisible as possible.
• Heat Reactive - cotton fabric with a heat resistant pattern that becomes brighter with the wearer's body heat.
• Transformabili is a line of multifunctional closet items. For example, a raincoat inspired by the German army model Zeltbahn transformed into a tent.

The history of Stone Island: sailing ships, post-apocalypse and ... even the Ukrainian trace!

The brand celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2022, and its story is perfect for the script of a thrilling biopic. Because the Stony Island brand was first considered a line within CP Company, the first collections (1982-1984) were produced without numbers. And the premiere models appeared almost by accident. Working on a new CP Company collection together with the designer Guido Pellegrini, Massimo Osti came across an unusual material - Tella Stella tarpaulin made of cotton, dyed in contrasting colors on each side. The fabric reminded the designer of the years he spent on the Adriatic coast, where this tarpaulin was once used to create beach umbrellas. The finished jackets were so different from the usual SR Company concept that it was decided to release them as a separate capsule collection called Stone Island.

By the way, the very phrase "Stone Island" was borrowed from the works of the British novelist of Polish origin Joseph Conrad. He was born in what is now Ukraine, near Berdichev, in the village of Terekhovo, where there is now a museum of the writer. The words "Stone" and "Island" were most often mentioned in Conrad's sea-romantic stories, and he himself rose from a simple sailor to captain.

The success of the brand came quickly - already the third collection was greeted by Italian fashionistas like a long-awaited movie premiere. Paninari, the fashionable Milanese subculture, contributed to the brand's frenzied rise to fame, as they loved Stone Island's luxury clothing with its brutal silhouette and "Americanized" name. And this, despite the fact that Osti himself in one of the interviews called his creations "clothes for sea walks", in no way related to fashion.

In 1993, Massimo Osti left the company, handing over the reins to entrepreneur Carl Rivetti. The post of designer went to Moreno Ferrari, who went on to create two legendary models, the Transformabili and Urban protection. His love of naval silhouettes and rough materials was instilled in him by his aunt, who sewed uniforms for the Italian Navy. Rivetti and Ferrari quickly became the perfect team, and the starting point was their passion for uniforms. This is how the brand's concept was finally formed - an "outfit" for a metropolitan dweller, protecting from wind, noise and even psychological aggression. Yes, yes, Dynafill nylon jackets from Urban Protection line were equipped with huge containers and were sold in a set with masks, headphones, flashlights and scooters. In short, they had everything you needed to survive in the big city!

Already in 1996, the head designer was Paul Harvey, an Englishman whose love of technological clothing was a perfect match for Stone Island's identity. Harvey worked at the company for more than 10 years, designing 24 collections. Among his major innovations:

• Formula Steel - a rough blended canvas fabric with added nylon and polyurethane.
• Oltre - thin and shiny nylon.
• Absolute hits Pure Metal Shell Bronze and Pure Metal Shell Silver - 100% copper and steel materials combined with a textile backing.
• White Light Jacket fabric with a rich blue color, etc.

Harvey left the brand in 2008 and was succeeded by a whole team of designers. Between 1990 and 2000, Stone Island enjoyed a new wave of popularity. Stone Island enjoyed a new wave of popularity, this time in England. Here waterproof warm branded things were a raving success among soccer fans, as well as grime stars. Interestingly, 20 years later the story was repeated in the USA. Here the main connoisseurs of Stone Island originals (both from new collections and vintage ones) became representatives of hip-hop culture.

At the end of 2020 Stone Island was bought out by the Italian holding company Moncler. The brand continues to develop and rapidly expands its assortment, for example, the official Stone Island website offers not only clothes, but also footwear (sneakers and boots inspired by retro style).

What clothes and accessories can I buy at Domino's online store?

The brand's range includes casual urban wear and accessories with an innovative spirit. At Domino you can buy hoodies and polos in a restrained color scheme, sports sweatshirts and sweatshirts, pants, a large selection of hats (caps, panamas, caps). These are indispensable elements of casual closet, designed for more than one fashionable season. A separate category is always Stone Island jackets - a real must have among fans of the brand. Among the popular models:

• lightweight cotton jackets;
• windproof models made of polyamide;
• comfortable jackets with perfect fit made of polyester and elastane, etc.

Stone Island's branded pieces at Domino often echo archival models - designers like to call on the company's heritage. Straight silhouettes, an emphasis on functionality, and an abundance of monochromatic designs make the "wind rose" clothing a timeless classic for anyone who's young at heart. Buy things Stone Island in Kiev and Odessa at the best price in Ukraine in Domino boutiques, as well as in the online store with fast and reliable delivery throughout the country.