Paul Harvey and Stone Island: what changed after Massimo Osti

Massimo Osti started Stone Island in 1982, and his experiments with fabrics and dyeing are what the brand is known for. But the story didn't stop when he left. Here is how it carried on, and who shaped it.

Carlo Rivetti steps in

In 1993 the company that owned Stone Island sold it to Carlo Rivetti, an Italian businessman from a family in the textile trade. Rivetti brought it together with C.P. Company under one roof, the Sportswear Company. From then on, he was the man steering the brand's business and direction.

Massimo Osti leaves

Osti left Stone Island at the end of 1995. The brand's identity was built on his ideas, so the big question was whether it could keep going without him.

Paul Harvey arrives

In 1996 Rivetti brought in English designer Paul Harvey. Harvey kept the experimental spirit alive, working with makers of technical materials, including DuPont, and pushing the brand through new fabrics and treatments. He also designed Serie 100, a women's line. He led the design side for roughly twelve years, producing around two dozen collections, before moving to work on C.P. Company. His approach was to build on what Osti started rather than rip it up, which is a big reason Stone Island held its identity as it grew.

What it means if you collect

Pieces from the Harvey years sit between the early Osti era and the modern brand, and many collectors rate them highly. You can use our ART number checker to find the season and year of a piece and see where it falls.

The latest chapter

In recent years Stone Island has been part of the Moncler group, which is why you'll see the newer code format on current pieces. Our checker handles that too.

Read more: Massimo Osti: the man behind Stone Island and CP Company. Want a piece authenticated? We'll check it for £1.49.