Nino Cerruti was one of Italy’s most important fashion designers, who shaped the international fashion world with his elegant and timeless style. He founded the fashion company Cerruti, which to this day stands for high-quality men’s and women’s clothing. He was also a pioneer in collaboration with Hollywood, where he outfitted many stars and films with his creations.
Nino Cerruti was born on September 25, 1930 in Biella, a small town in Piedmont. His family owned a textile factory since 1881, specializing in the production of fine wool fabrics. Even as a child, he showed a great interest in fashion and tailoring. He studied philosophy at the University of Turin, but abandoned his studies to take over the management of the family firm after his father’s death. He modernized production and expanded the range to include new materials such as cashmere, mohair and alpaca.
In 1957, he launched his first own collection under the name Hitman, aimed at young and dynamic men. He opened his first boutique in Paris and began to distribute his fashion internationally. He was one of the first Italian designers to conquer the American market. He placed great emphasis on the quality, fit and comfort of his clothes, which he saw as a second skin for the wearer.
In 1967 he founded the label Cerruti 1881, which combined his name and the year of foundation of the textile factory. He presented his collections in Milan and became one of the leading representatives of Italian men’s fashion. He created a new style that combined classic elegance with sporty casualness. He experimented with colors, patterns and cuts, creating suits, coats, shirts and accessories that could be worn both at work and at leisure.
He expanded his range to include women’s fashion, perfumes, watches and eyewear, making Cerruti a global brand. He also worked closely with Hollywood and dressed many famous actors like or Julia Roberts. He also designed the costumes for several films such as “Pretty Woman”” or “Wall Street”.
Nino Cerruti remained at the head of his company until 2000, when he sold it to a French group. He retired from the limelight and devoted himself to his private interests such as travel, art and literature. After his death in 2022, he left a great legacy in the fashion world.