While the word heritage, once a key piece of the menswear puzzle, has shifted within the scene’s lexicon, knowledge of a brand’s history remains something to be bragged about in the right circles, a marker of those whose wardrobes are born from something more than current trends.
In celebration then, of the event's technical focus this season and the man’s admirable back catalogue, London trade show Jacket Required this week will hold a two day Massimo Osti retrospective, and it’s open to the general public.
Perhaps one of the most respected designers in the streetwear community, Italian born Osti was an innovator responsible for changing and evolving production techniques, first introducing garment dying in the 1980’s.
Working initially with Chester Perry – which would become C.P. Company – in 1982 his research led him to found Stone Island, a brand that today, almost 11 years after his death, continues to release collections formed on fresh ideas in relation to design and manufacture.
Open from Thursday 26th January in Brick Lane’s Old Truman Brewery, the exhibition is comprised of a series of iconic pieces pulled from the Massimo Osti archive in his native Bologna; Chester Parry, Stone Island, C.P. Company, Left-Hand and Massimo Osti Productions garms all feature.
Those sans day job or who are happy to skip school can also catch Massimo’s son Lorenzo, in conversation at 2pm on Friday.
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