The story behind
Massimo Osti
The designer behind Stone Island and CP Company, and why his work still matters.
Born in Bologna
Massimo Osti was born in Bologna, Italy. He trained in graphic design and worked in advertising before moving into clothing. That eye for graphics and detail ran through everything he made.
CP Company
He launched the label that became C.P. Company. Osti treated clothing as a technical problem, borrowing from military and workwear and testing fabrics, dyes and finishes that casual clothes rarely used.
Stone Island
Osti launched Stone Island. The first pieces used heavy fabric of the kind made for truck covers, treated and dyed in new ways. The compass badge on the sleeve soon became one of the most recognisable in menswear.
Fabric experiments
Stone Island became known for its fabric research. Raso Gommato, a rubberised fabric, appeared in the early years, and the Ice Jacket changed colour with the temperature.
Moving on
Osti left Stone Island in the mid-1990s and carried on designing his own projects, still working with technical fabrics and everyday style.
His legacy
Osti died in 2005. His ideas are still the reason people look for older Stone Island and CP Company pieces today. Found one? Our ART number checker can help you date it.