Cerruti 1881
| File:Cerruti 1881 Logo.png | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fashion |
| Founded | 1967 |
| Founder | Nino Cerruti |
| Headquarters | Paris, France |
Number of locations | 84 stores in 34 cities in China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan (2021) |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Clothing, fashion accessories, jewelry, perfumes, watches |
| Parent | Shandong Ruyi |
| Website | www |
Cerruti 1881, commonly referred to as Cerruti, is a prestigious Italian luxury fashion brand established in 1967 with its headquarters located in Paris. The label was created by designer Nino Cerruti and takes its name from the family’s wool mill, the Fratelli Cerruti Wool Mill, which dates back to 1881.
The fashion house was inaugurated by Nino Cerruti in 1967, setting up its main office and boutique at 3 Place de la Madeleine and launching its initial retail store at 27 rue Royale in Paris, where it continues to operate today.
History
The Cerruti family’s textile factory, Lanificio Fratelli Cerruti, was established in 1881 in Biella, situated in Italy's Piemonte region. Utilizing local water resources to process imported wool from Australia and South Africa, the mill specializes in producing fine fabrics such as flannel, tweeds, cashmere, and muslin. After his father passed away in 1950, Nino Cerruti assumed control of the mill, which remains active in fabric production.
In 1958, the brand garnered recognition through a fashion event held in Rome that introduced the unique shade called "battalion," alongside a promotional collaboration with Lancia involving customized vehicles.
Cerruti launched its menswear line in 1967 and later broadened its portfolio with the introduction of 'Cerruti Woman' womenswear collection in 1976. A notable figure associated with the brand is Giorgio Armani, who served as a design assistant from 1964 until 1970 before founding his own fashion house.
The first fragrance from Cerruti, Nino Cerruti pour Homme, was released in 1978. This was followed by additional scents including Fair Play (1985), Cerruti 1881 pour Homme (1990), Cerruti Image (1998), and l'Essence de Cerruti (2008).
Throughout the 1980s, the brand expanded into costume design for motion pictures.
In 1994, Cerruti was appointed as the official designer for the Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 racing team.
In October 2000, Nino Cerruti sold the company to Italian investors and returned to overseeing the family’s textile operations after Fin.part completed its acquisition.
Following this change, Fin.part named Roberto Menichetti as creative director in late 2001; he departed after one season and was succeeded by Istvan Francer for two seasons. In spring 2003, David Cardona assumed creative leadership with Adrian Smith directing menswear. However, Fin.part encountered financial difficulties leading to bankruptcy in 2005. That year also witnessed an unsuccessful acquisition attempt by Manifattura Paolini.
In August 2006, American private equity firm MatlinPatterson purchased Cerruti and appointed Nicolas Andreas Taralis—formerly a designer at Dior and owner of the label Homme—as creative director to rejuvenate the brand.
By October 2007, Taralis was replaced by Belgian designer Jean Paul Knott, who had previous experience with Krizia, Yves Saint Laurent, and Louis Féraud. Knott had initially managed the diffusion line Cerruti 1881 since March of that year.
Products
The Cerruti brand is engaged in the creation, production, distribution, and retail of luxury ready-to-wear collections, denim, fragrances, sports apparel, leather accessories, timepieces, and various fashion items. It presents three primary lines catering to both men and women: the Cerruti (luxury), Cerruti 1881 (accessible luxury), and 18CRR81 (sportswear), along with distinct sub-brands such as Cerruti Jeans and Cerruti Parfums.
Fragrances
- 1978 Nino Cerruti (Men)
- 1985 Fair Play (Men)
- 1987 Nino Cerruti pour femme (Women)
- 1990 Cerruti 1881 (Men)
- 1995 Cerruti 1881 (Women)
- 1998 Cerruti Image (Women)
- 2000 Cerruti Image (Men)
- 2002 Cerruti 1881 Amber (Men)
- 2003 Cerruti 1881 Eau d'Eté (Women)
- 2004 Cerruti Sí (Men)
- 2006 Cerruti 1881 – Black (Men)
- 2006 Cerruti 1881 pour femme – White (Women)
- 2008 L'Essence de Cerruti (Men)
Stores
By May 2021, Cerruti 1881 maintained a network of 84 retail outlets spanning across 34 cities within China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.
In the past, the brand operated boutiques globally in major metropolitan areas such as Milan, Madrid, London, Kuala Lumpur, Munich, Stockholm, Riyadh, Moscow, New York City, Hong Kong, Taipei, Jakarta, and Tokyo.
From July 2009 through May 2010, the flagship boutique located at Place de la Madeleine underwent extensive refurbishment under the direction of French architect Christian Biecher. The grand reopening was marked by the presence of founder Nino Cerruti.
Cinema and Cerruti
Nino Cerruti has maintained an enduring connection with the film industry by designing exclusive wardrobes for movies and actors since initially dressing Jean-Paul Belmondo in 1965. Significant collaborations include:
- 1985 – The Jewel of the Nile, worn by Michael Douglas
- 1987 – The Witches of Eastwick, outfitting Jack Nicholson
- 1987 – Fatal Attraction, styled for Michael Douglas
- 1987 – Wall Street, featuring Michael Douglas
- 1990 – Pretty Woman, dressed Richard Gere
- 1991 – Silence of the Lambs, wardrobe for Scott Glenn
- 1992 – Basic Instinct, styled Michael Douglas
- 1993 – Philadelphia, clothing Tom Hanks
- 1993 – Indecent Proposal, outfitting Robert Redford
- 1994 – Death and the Maiden, designed for Roman Polanski
- 1994 – Prêt-à-Porter, wardrobe for Marcello Mastroianni
- 1997 – As Good as It Gets, dressed Jack Nicholson
- 1997 – Air Force One, outfitting Harrison Ford
- 1998 – Eyes Wide Shut, clothing Tom Cruise
- 2000 – American Psycho, styled Christian Bale
Sports and Cerruti
Cerruti capitalized on sports marketing by providing apparel for distinguished athletes across multiple sports disciplines:
- Skiing – Ingemar Stenmark
- Tennis – Jimmy Connors, Mats Wilander
- Football – Jean Pierre Papin
- Motorsport – Jean Alesi, Ferrari Team, Gerhard Berger, Jacques Villeneuve, Michael Schumacher
See also
External links
- Pages with broken file links
- Clothing companies of France
- Fashion accessory brands
- High fashion brands
- Eyewear companies of France
- Eyewear brands of France
- Watch manufacturing companies of France
- French companies established in 1967
- Clothing companies established in 1967
- Design companies established in 1967
- Companies based in Paris
- 2006 mergers and acquisitions
- 2010 mergers and acquisitions
- 1967 establishments in France