20/09/2012

Stone Island Presents Archivio ’982 – ’012

Stone Island Presents Archivio ’982 – ’012

Over the past 30 years Stone Island has built up an immense archive of garments: 20 000 pieces to be more exact. After the preview in Florence earlier this year, the brand is tonight hosting an event in their Milano store to present Archivio ’982 – ’012 – a book containing 300 images of their iconic sportswear and three decades of skills and know-how.


In June The Blogazine had the honour of meeting Carlo Rivetti, the creative director, CEO and strong entrepreneur behind Stone Island. At that moment the discussion was about Stone Island 30, a fantastic exhibition that we in many ways see as the ‘live version’ of the book. Or the stone as mr Rivetti calls it. “Well, if you have seen the book you know that it’s really a stone – so heavy!” we recall him telling us with laughter.


From the introductory words by Carlo Rivetti to the in-depth descriptions next to each picture, chronologically following from 1982 to 2012, one understands how much this archive of history means for Stone Island. Archivio ’982 – ’012 is a story through images and gives the studious a lot to take in regarding brand DNA, high technological techniques, fabrics and colours, and 30 years of sophisticated sportswear collections. When turning the pages in this image archive, it is an apparel history lesson. In the same time it shows how many of the garments, standing alone or sometimes even as a complete look, seem to be sort of timeless (well okay, maybe with a few adjustments).

Someone once told us about a writer who put lead in the cover of his book to make it appear heavier and therefore more important. Stone Island has instead filled its book with a story important enough in itself, making sure it will stand out among the books on the coffee table.


Archivio ‘982 – ’012 will after tonight’s presentation in Milan also be presented in Verona, Rome and London and will be for sale in bookshops and libraries as well as from Stone Island’s flagship stores and main retailers worldwide

Lisa Olsson Hjerpe – Image courtesy of Stone Island

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12/07/2012

Met at Pitti 82: Carlo Rivetti of Stone Island

Met at Pitti 82: Carlo Rivetti of Stone Island

In occasion of Pitti Uomo 82, Stone Island celebrated the company’s long history of successful collections, high technological fabric research, and being a brand experimenting with techniques often foreign to the fashion world. The retrospective exhibition Stone Island 30 shows over 200 garments from 30 years of collections along with the recently published book showcasing the immense archive, for the very same occasion. While in Florence, The Blogazine met with Mr Carlo Rivetti, the CEO and owner of Stone Island.

Buonasera mr Rivetti! The exhibition is great, how do you yourself feel about the final result of it?
I’m very surprised by the general response to the exhibition. First of all, there has been an unbelievable attendance by the press but also by our customers. As well, we invited and organized a bus to bring all the people from our factories from Emilia here. Without these people, this exhibition would not exist!

The exhibition has taken us from 1982 to 2012. How has the trip been?
It’s been more of a flight than a trip! Times flies… too fast! I think this is a milestone, not only in our history but also in the evolution of the man over the past years.

And what comes next?
Well, first of all we need to file the exhibition into our archive. As you can understand, we are very fond of all historical aspects and we need this as a memory for the future! I believe, well, we believe in the Internet a lot, and in all the new types of media – the Internet is like an elephant, hahaha, it doesn’t forget anything! Hopefully the effect of the exhibition will live on forever, in some way. Other than that, we will start working on a mobile application in the near future.


Is there anything in your archive that you can see working as well in the future?
It’s interesting that you ask. Yesterday I was in our showroom in Milan, and it is amazing to see how the Tela Stella, our initial material, has been under constant evolution all this time. And now, for the S/S 2014 collection we’re taking it aboard and transforming it into something new. I have been told many times that if you would change the features of our first original collection just a little bit, it would be very contemporary. So it’s really an interesting mix between the past and the future that stands before us.

How does it come that Stone Island is so devoted to the area of innovation?
Innovation is the DNA in my company, and you know; a company is built by people. My people have their DNA in the field of research and developing techniques, they keep on pushing for innovation all the time – it’s fantastic!

Your strength often lies in the fabrics, the technical research and the functionality. How do you see the balance between sportswear and fashion?
I don’t recognize myself in the fashion business, I see myself much closer to industrial design. Stone Island doesn’t do shows, we don’t do presentations, we don’t do fairs, we do zero. A couple of years ago a British newspaper said that Stone Island is the best kept secret in the fashion industry, and that I am very proud of. I believe in this type of communication instead, because I want to talk directly to the final customer. In these days, if you have a story to tell – and we got many stories to tell – and if you are consistent and respectful of your company’s DNA, people will be fascinated.

Thank you for giving us a little of your time Mr Rivetti!

Lisa Olsson Hjerpe – Images courtesy of Pitti Immagine

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29/06/2012

Pitti Bimbo n°75 – Highlights

Pitti Bimbo n°75 – Highlights

When attending yesterday’s opening day of Pitti Bimbo in Florence, The Blogazine had a whole bunch of colourful, cool, technical and beautiful children’s wear collections presented to us. Here are a few highlights from the day in the children’s world.

The elegant and classy lines of Pinco Pallino, the children’s wear collection by Imelde & Stefano Cavalleri was presented in a large area, solely dedicated to them. The couture collection presented beautifully embroidered jacquards and laser cut, flower patterned dresses in pink, light green and ivory tones while the main line gave us more energy through bright green and deep pink. The company also presented their support for SOS Children’s Villages during the fair, to highlight the importance of their work.

Other brands presenting high level couture were Ermanno Scervino, Roberto Cavalli and Fendi. All drawing inspiration from their main lines, they presented collections translated into children’s garments with a playful touch to the otherwise grown-up style. The fluorescent fabrics and details were present in all of the collections, and where Cavalli had the animal prints as an obvious reference, Fendi had re-used certain details straight off the catwalk, to create a connection between the two worlds.

Datch is another brand which has taken the core inspiration from their men’s and women’s wear to dress the little “Datch Dudes” for an exciting Spring/Summer 2013. The phenomena exclusivity and second to none count also in the kid’s wear world, and in fact Simonetta took the opportunity of Pitti Bimbo to create a special event and limited edition collection together with one of Florence’s finest luxury stores, Luisa Via Roma. The last night’s event was the first in-store event exclusively dedicated to children’s wear. The showcased LimitED t-shirt reproduces Andy Warhol’s image of Marilyn Monroe, and is aiming at paying homage to timeless beauty.

Two brands with slightly more technical and street profiles are Stone Island and Diesel. Eventhough Diesel presented strass and studs, and a capsule collection with Swarovski detailing, the core of the collection was doubtlessly the jeans. The denim inspiration was present in the overall feel and wash of the garments as well as in the large selection of denim pants and materials. At Stone Island the kids’ collection and its materials were pretty much the same as of the ones in the main collections. The pieces were highly researched and of high quality, and in some cases the exact model of what you will find in the size for the parents. Overall, as mentioned before, the trends for the little ones seem to follow the trends of the big ones – with a little more joy and colour!

Lisa Olsson Hjerpe 

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25/06/2012

Pitti Uomo n°82 – The Start Off

Pitti Uomo n°82 – The Start Off

During four hot days The Blogazine attended Pitti Uomo n°82 & Pitti W, running between stands, shows and events, making the most out of the Florentine equivalent to Fashion Week. We saw new young talents and re-visited some that we’ve met before. We made new friends and caught up with the old ones, discovered new brands and got all the insights and stories from behind-the-scenes. Throughout the week it was a joyful and well-dressed crowd full of character that started one of the most hectic fashion periods in Florence together with us.

As mentioned before, it was the Swedish talent Erïk Bjerkesjö who proved his talent and opened the week by winning the Who Is On Next award. The same evening at Stazione Leopolda, Stone Island inaugurated the 30 years retrospective – an exhibition focusing on the company’s tremendous history of research in fabric, sportswear and innovative techniques. The installation and S/S13 presentation by Peter Pilotto offered a wide range of colours integrated in the graphic prints, while Andrea Pompilio and Carven worked with accentuating colours and hints of sportswear inspirations well incorporated in the fine tailored collections.

During the week we discovered remarkable detailing and thought-through products, in which design goes before fashion. Historical research had been transformed into contemporary collections while others went back to the roots and the core of their brands.

Like Mr. Pompilio said after his show on Thursday evening, Florence is a great centre for menswear, and most designers are honoured to be a part of that experience. For the audience that headed to Milan on Friday, and then onwards to Paris, the official fashion weeks for menswear got a great start!

Lisa Olsson Hjerpe 

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