Information On Cerruti

In 1881 three Cerruti brothers established a textile business in Biella (in the Piedmont region between Milan and Turin), an area well-known for its high quality wool production. Antonio (Nino) Cerruti was born there in 1930 as the eldest grandson of one of the founding brothers.

Nino\ Cerruti to begin with studied philosophy, but joined the family firm in 1950 as head of the company. After modernising the company, Cerruti launched a range of menswear called Hitman in 1957, and a knitwear line a few years later.

In 1961 a young designer named Giorgio Armani joined Cerruti, and in 1967, Cerruti created his fashion house in Paris, launching Cerruti’s first men's collection. The fabric production remained in Italy under the name of Lanificio Cerruti, while the fashion house was named Cerruti 1881. This expansion led Cerruti to develop a line dedicated entirely to womenswear in 1976, and the launch of the Cerruti Sports Line in 1980. Cerruti was among the first designers to sponsor sports celebrities and became the exclusive designer of the Formula 1 Ferrari team.

Cerruti clothes are pleasing to the eye, classically tailored, and made of high value fabrics. Nino Cerruti was one of the recognized leading designers in men's classic wool suits, and his womenswear often adapted the men's styles to give a casual, stylish look. Cerruti was also well branded for designing for the movie industry; some of his most famous films being 'Pretty Woman', 'Witches of Eastwick' and 'Wall Street'.

In 2001, Nino Cerruti retired and sold his 120-year-old family business to Finpart.