Stone Island vs C.P. Company: Same Founder, Different Brands
Quick answer: both brands were founded by the same designer, Massimo Osti. C.P. Company came first, in 1971 in Bologna. Stone Island followed in 1982 as an experiment with a new fabric. They shared an owner for years, but since 2010 they have been separate companies. Today Stone Island belongs to the Moncler group and C.P. Company to Tristate Holdings. Stone Island is known for the badge and fabric research, C.P. Company for garment dyeing and the goggle jacket.
Stone Island and C.P. Company hang next to each other in our shop, on the same terraces and in the same wardrobes. People often ask whether they are the same brand. They are not, but they are family, and understanding that history helps you choose between them.
One designer, two brands
Massimo Osti started C.P. Company in Bologna in 1971, first under the name Chester Perry. After a trademark dispute the name was shortened to C.P. Company in 1978. Osti was a graphic designer who became obsessed with military and workwear, fabrics and dyeing techniques. He developed garment dyeing at scale: dyeing a finished garment instead of the fabric, which gives colour a depth that is hard to copy.
In 1982 Osti found a heavy, two tone fabric used for truck tarpaulins, known as Tela Stella. He made a small collection of jackets from it. It was meant as a one off, but the jackets sold so well that they became a brand of their own: Stone Island, with the compass badge on the sleeve.
Who owns them now
| Stone Island | C.P. Company | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1982, Ravarino | 1971, Bologna |
| Founder | Massimo Osti | Massimo Osti |
| Current owner | Moncler group (since 2021) | Tristate Holdings (since 2015) |
| Signature | Compass badge on the left sleeve | Goggle and lens details |
| Known for | Fabric research and treatments | Garment dyeing, military and workwear shapes |
| Research line | Shadow Project | Lens and Goggle lines, archive reissues |
From 1993 both brands were run by Carlo Rivetti's Sportswear Company. In 2010 C.P. Company was sold to Enzo Fusco's FGF Industry and in 2015 to Tristate. Stone Island stayed with Rivetti until Moncler bought it in a deal announced in December 2020 and completed in 2021. So the question "is C.P. Company owned by Stone Island" has a simple answer: no.
How they differ in design
Stone Island is about the fabric itself. Every season introduces new materials and treatments: reflective yarns, heat reactive fabrics, rubber coatings, iridescent nylons. The badge makes a piece recognisable instantly. See our fabrics guide for the best known materials.
C.P. Company is more about shape and colour. Utility pockets, military silhouettes and very deep garment dyed colours. The recognisable detail is the lens: on the hood of the goggle jacket, on the sleeve of an overshirt or on the side of a cap. The branding is more subtle than a Stone Island badge. Read the story of the C.P. Company goggle jacket.
Quality and price
Both brands are made to a high standard, with a lot of production in Italy and Europe over the years. New retail prices are in the same range, with Stone Island jackets usually a bit higher. On the second hand market, Stone Island holds its value better thanks to the badge and the bigger collector base. That makes C.P. Company pieces relatively good value when you buy pre-owned.
Fit and sizing
Both use Italian based letter sizes. Modern Stone Island has a clean, slightly slim fit. C.P. Company differs more per model, from relaxed overshirts to fitted down jackets. The only reliable way is to compare measurements, which is why we list pit to pit and length on every piece. See our Stone Island sizing guide for how to measure.
Which one should you choose?
- Want a piece that is instantly recognised and a fabric with a story? Stone Island.
- Prefer deep colours, utility details and more subtle branding? C.P. Company.
- Buying second hand on a budget? C.P. Company often gives you more jacket for the money.
Most of our regular customers end up owning both.
FAQ
Is C.P. Company the same as Stone Island?
No. Both were founded by Massimo Osti and shared an owner for years, but they have been separate companies since 2010.
Is C.P. Company owned by Stone Island?
No. C.P. Company is owned by Tristate Holdings, Stone Island by the Moncler group.
Which is more expensive, Stone Island or C.P. Company?
New prices are similar, with Stone Island jackets usually a little higher. Second hand, Stone Island generally holds more value.
Shop Stone Island or C.P. Company at Gorilla Island.
Checked by hand at Gorilla Island
We are a Stone Island and C.P. Company specialist from Amsterdam. Every piece we sell is checked by hand: ART number, labels, badge, fabric and construction. This guide is based on that daily work.
