STONE ISLAND, AUTUMN/WINTER 2015

Beautiful landscapes, heavenly food, exquisite literature and amazing style… Is there ever anything Italians don’t get right?

Judging by the latest Stone Island Autumn/Winter collection, we think it would be safe to say that the answer to that question is a resounding no!

The forthcoming assemblage features, as it is costumed, the distinctively functional and impeccably stylish brand signature, with every item in the collection, from the military trench coats to the bomber jackets, cleverly re-approached in a broad palette of colours to suit the young and adventurous as much as the old-school audiences.

The brand has a military and marine feel about it conjuring up visions of old oilskins corroded by the sea. The name evokes a love of the ocean and the badge, the detachable fabric label that has distinguished Stone Island garments since the first season, shows a Compass Rose, displayed like a military insignia.

“Stone Island is research, experimentation, function and use. It is a sportswear brand that carries on an ongoing investigation on the processing and ennobling of fibres and textiles, leading to discover materials and production techniques never used before in the clothing industry.

We test a lot on dyeing and treatments in the internal laboratory of colour. It is a department able to combine advanced technology, experience and human capacity and that has developed more than 60.000 different dyeing recipes throughout the years.

We study the uniform and the work-wear. Our archive, with 20.000 pieces is as well a strong point of reference. I believe that the insatiable curiosity of sounding the present and the tension towards possible future scenarios that are the conditions for Stone Island’s continuous evolution.

From 1982, the DNA and the values have never changed. The continuity and integrity within the Stone Island story make the brand unique.” Said Carlo Rivetti, CEO of the company.

Designed and manufactured in the small town of Ravarino, near Bologna, the Stone Island headquarters seems to be surrounded by an aura of success. With companies such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati and Bugatti as neighbours it is easy to see why the distretto (Italian for industrial zone) is called the dreamland of luxury by so many.

“This is an area that produces dreams, not mere products.” said Rivetti. “The heritage of my country’s culture is very important. I am the eighth generation of my family working with textiles, so the roots are really strong!”

With a typical Italian mix of creativity, taste and comfort, this is one of those collections that should form part of any style-conscious man’s attire.