Nino Cerruti, the visionary Italian fashion designer known for revolutionizing men’s fashion with «casual chic» styles and dressing Hollywood’s elite, has peacefully passed away at the age of 91. His legacy is deeply intertwined with the world of fashion, particularly in the realm of men’s ready-to-wear clothing.
Born in 1930 in Biella, Italy, Nino Cerruti initially aspired to become a journalist. However, after his father’s untimely passing when he was 20, he took the reins of his family’s textile factory. In the 1960s, Cerruti crossed paths with a young Giorgio Armani and brought him on board to shape men’s fashion. Together, they made a profound impact on the fashion industry before Armani ventured out to establish his own fashion empire in 1975.
Renowned for his daring and innovative designs, Cerruti introduced the first deconstructed jacket in the 1970s, emphasizing a blend of style and comfort that resonated with fashion enthusiasts. His philosophy was succinct: «I want men to be more liberated in their elegance and more elegant in their freedom.»
Standing tall and slender, Nino Cerruti always insisted on being the first to don his creations, many of which he stored at the woolen mill founded by his grandfather in Biella in 1881. He humorously noted, «I have always dressed the same person—myself.»
In a memorable fashion moment during the student uprising of May 1968 in France, he defied conventions by having male and female models strut down the runway wearing identical clothing. This move celebrated the transformative power of trousers for women.
Cerruti ventured into women’s clothing in the 1970s, a branch of his business that eventually accounted for a significant portion of revenue two decades later. Expanding his horizons, he delved into perfumes, watches, shoes, and jewelry.
This «philosopher of clothing,» as he was affectionately called, had the privilege of dressing Hollywood luminaries such as Richard Gere, Robert Redford, and Jean-Paul Belmondo. He even made cameo appearances in Hollywood films, leaving his indelible mark on cinema.
In the 1990s, Cerruti’s fashion house received the honor of being the official designer for the Ferrari Formula 1 team, a testament to his enduring influence.
Despite the challenges of the fiercely competitive luxury fashion landscape as an independent entity, he sold his label «Cerruti 1881» to Italian investors in 2001. Subsequently, it changed hands, landing in the portfolio of a US investment fund and later the Chinese group Trinity.
Following the sale, Nino Cerruti returned to his family home in Biella, bringing his remarkable journey in the fashion industry to a full circle.
Nino Cerruti, often spotted wearing his signature yellow jumper at fashion shows, will be remembered as a trailblazing innovator and visionary creative who left an indelible mark on the fashion world.
His transition from a family-run textile factory to a global fashion icon’s tale serves as an inspirational chapter in the annals of fashion history.