Nino Cerruti Has Died Aged 91 – WWD

January 15, 2022 Mary

MILAN – Nino Cerruti died on Saturday at age 91 following complications from a surgery, a spokeswoman for Lanificio Fratelli Cerruti said.

Cerruti, who was born in Biella, one of Italy’s main textile hubs, was a key figure in the international fashion industry, well-respected and known for his elegance, kindness and polite ways.

“For the family, collaborators, friends and management of Lanificio Cerruti and for Italian fashion today is a sad day because with the death of Mr. Nino the world looses a man of talent, an extraordinary designer, a visionary ahead of his time and a great mentor to whom many are indebted,” said Lanificio Fratelli Cerruti in a statement.

His grandfather had founded a textile mill in Biella in 1881, the Lanificio Fratelli Cerruti. Drawing from his experience in producing excellent fabrics, Cerruti ventured into the production of clothing in the late 1950s.

His first men’s collection, Hitman, was shown in 1957 and was considered revolutionary in men’s wear at the time, as Cerruti is credited as the first to create the deconstructed jacket for men.

The Cerruti men’s wear line was launched in 1967 and it was to be followed by a women’s wear collection a year later.

The first Cerruti boutique opened in 1967 in Place de la Madeleine in Paris, where Cerruti moved the company’s headquarters in order to be closer to the international fashion capital. The fabric production under the name of Lanificio Fratelli Cerruti and the Hitman label remained in Italy.

Cerruti, Lanificio Cerruti of Biella and Hitman, based out of Corsico, together formed Fratelli Cerruti, the Cerruti Brothers group.

Over the years, Cerruti offered women’s wear and men’s wear; the Cerruti 1881 diffusion line; a luxury ready-to-wear collection named Cerruti Arte; Cerruti Jeans; the Cerruti Brothers business collection for men as well as fragrances and accessories. Later the clothing lines were regrouped under the Cerruti 1881 name.

He had an eye for talent as he tapped Giorgio Armani in 1964, who worked with Cerruti until 1970.

“It is with great sadness that I learn of Nino Cerruti’s death,” said Armani. “Although over the years we had seen less of each other, I have always considered him one of the people who have had a real and positive influence on my life. From him I learned not only the taste for a sartorial softness, but also the importance of an all-around vision, as a designer and an entrepreneur. Mr. Nino was a keen observer, he had a real curiosity and the ability to dare. His gentle way of being authoritative and also authoritarian will be missed.”

Carlo Capasa, chairman of Italy’s Camera della Moda, defined Cerruti “a great innovator and a visionary entrepreneur. He was also one of the chicest Italian men, he was kind and polite, a true gentleman.”

Capasa underscored that Cerruti was “the first to understand the importance of creativity in men’s fashion and to give space to a young designer of immense talent such as Giorgio Armani in order to change fashion’s criteria. He was one of the first to have such as strong international clout that could be representative in the world of that unique blend of creativity and quality that went on to characterize – and still does – Italian fashion.”

Jason Basmajian, chief creative officer of Cerruti 1881 in the 2015-2019 period, said “Nino was a gentleman with old school manners, a curious mind, and a very modern perspective. He was a visionary designer far ahead of his time quietly inventing a relaxed effortless style focused on beautiful cuts and innovative textiles. His powerful clothes were always relevant and fresh yet somehow timeless. He gave a soul to garments. He paired t-shirts and trainers with suits far before it was a trend. His relationships with Hollywood and the film industry were based on real friendships long before social media and paid placement. He taught me to design first for yourself and never to be distracted by the whims and trends of the fashion system. He was a kind, humble and intelligent man who was always so supportive of my work and willing to give constructive guidance. Nino will remain a legend – knowing and working with him was an honor.”

In the 1980s, Cerruti began a collaboration with the world of movies. From “Bonnie and Clyde” and “Pretty Woman” to “Basic Instinct,” the brand Cerruti designed clothes for actors such as Michael Douglas, Jack Nicholson, Tom Hanks, Bruce Willis, Sharon Stone, Julia Roberts, Robert Redford, Harrison Ford, Al Pacino or Jean Paul Belmondo.

In October 2000, in an effort to secure global expansion, Cerruti sold 51 percent of his company to the now-defunct Fin.Part, which would less than a year later buy the rest of the company and force the designer out after irreconcilable differences.

“There was a perpetual conflict of interest,” Cerruti said later. For this reason, the last collection designed by Cerruti was for spring 2002.

Since 2000, Cerruti focused on the family-owned textile mill business Lanificio Fratelli Cerruti in Biella.

After Fin.part’s bankruptcy in 2005, Cerruti was sold to the American private equity firm MatlinPatterson, but the brand was once again sold to China’s Trinity Ltd. in 2010. As reported, earlier this month Trinity was put into liquidation.

Source link