Cerruti originated in a family woollen textiles firm established in 1881 in Northern Italy. The son of one of the founders, Nino Cerruti, directed the company from 1950 and took the step of moving into the production of clothing (the Hitman label) in 1957.
To complete this transformation, he moved the design company’s head office to Paris, opened a boutique there (on the Rue Royale) and launched the Cerruti Menswear line to acclaim in 1967.
The textile arm of the business in Italy continued to be known by the original manufacturing name (literally, Lanificio Cerruti) while the fashion house was named Cerruti 1881.
The company’s first full womenswear collection was launched in 1976, and the 1980s and 1990s saw a meteoric rise in the company’s profile, matched by a great expansion of its product range. The company ceased to be a family business in 2001.
Written by vintage-voyager.com
from a 1970s suit
Courtesy of borntoolatevintage
from a 1970s men’s tie
Courtesy of vintagegent.com
from a 1990s knit top
Courtesy of fuzzylizzie.com
