THE LONGLASTING POWER OF STONE ISLAND
Sep 20, 2019
Stone Island’s momentum continues full steam ahead. In truth, the Italian brand has been at the vanguard of sports-inspired fashion since it was established in 1982 by Massimo Osti. A year later, enter Carlo Rivetti, who acquired the company, forging its know-how and identity while paving the way for growth.
Today, Stone Island has become global player, a symbol of extreme research in fibers and textiles, applied to innovative designs. Over the years, it has redefined the common idea of sportswear becoming a cult phenomenon that still leads the charge and, no easy task these days, a buzzy, contemporary point of reference for the younger generations.
Blending legacy and currency, Stone Island’s strength lies in its unique capacity to work on the finished garment via continuous experimentation with dyes and treatments created in the brand’s color laboratory. Here, a combo of ground-breaking technology, expertise and human skills has resulted in over 60,000 different dye recipes.
A case in point is the trilobate structure of the nylon yarn that serves as the basis of the distinctive metallic and tonic sheen of Nylon Metal, one of the most versatile fabrics in Stone Island’s portfolio.
An elaborate double dye procedure provides different tones, intensities and colors to the fibers and textile accessories of the garments, including zippers.
In that vein, Stone Island implemented its dyeing capacity by teaming up with Tintoria Emiliana, a longstanding supplier, to create a dedicated factory for garment dyeing.
According to WWD, 2018 sales soared 30 percent compared to the previous year with international markets accounting for 72 percent of Stone Island’s total business.