Fashion career profile
Massimo Osti
Massimo Osti (1944–2005) was an Italian designer and entrepreneur whose graphic-design training shaped an unusually experimental approach to clothing. After earning a commercial graphic-design diploma in 1967, he worked in advertising and developed printed T-shirts using techniques borrowed from paper printing. In 1970 he helped establish the company behind the Chester Perry line; trademark pressure led to its renaming as C.P. Company in 1978. Osti created Stone Island’s first collection in 1982 around Tela Stella, a two-sided, heavily treated canvas inspired by truck tarpaulin. Across both labels he investigated garment dyeing, coating, reflective materials and military or workwear forms, treating fabric research as part of design rather than a finishing step. He founded Massimo Osti Studio in 1984 and later formed Massimo Osti Production for new projects. His archive of used military and work garments became a research tool for product development. The profile separates brand-foundation dates from his later design and company roles.
- Role
- Founder and Product Innovator, C.P. Company
- Nationality
- Italian
- Age at death
- 61
- Career appointments
- 2
- Fashion houses
- 2
- Bologna City Council — City councillor1989–1992 · former
- CD2 advertising agency — Co-founder1968–End not documented · historical
- New Arrivals From HBX: C.P. CompanyHypebeast Fashion · 2026-07-08
- Education: Commercial graphic-design diploma through CEDIS night courses (1967)The archival timeline records this credential before his move into fashion and product design. · Massimo Osti Archive
- First fashion line: Designed printed T-shirts for Chomp Chomp in 1969Osti used screen-printing and color-separation techniques previously associated with paper printing. · Massimo Osti Archive
- C.P. Company: Chester Perry became C.P. Company in 1978The change followed a trademark dispute; the earlier Chester Perry business and the later brand name are not collapsed into one start date. · C.P. Company Archive
- Textile innovation: Created Tela Stella for Stone Island’s first collection in 1982The material drew on two-sided truck canvas and was treated to produce a distinctive worn surface. · Stone Island
- 1967 — Receives a commercial graphic-design diplomaOsti completes CEDIS night courses before beginning his fashion and product-design work.
- 1970 — Establishes the company behind Chester PerryOsti and Raimondo Cattabriga found O.M. Diffusion to produce the first Chester Perry collection.
- 1978 — Chester Perry becomes C.P. CompanyThe company changes its name after a trademark dispute.
- 1982 — Creates Stone Island’s first collectionThe collection is built around Tela Stella, a treated two-sided canvas inspired by truck coverings.
- 1982–1994 — Founder and Creative Director — Stone IslandHistorical appointment · Moncler Group
- 1971–1994 — Founder and Creative Director — C.P. CompanyHistorical appointment · C.P. Company Archive