ROME: Pioneering Italian fashion designer Nino Cerruti has died at the age of 91, it was on reported Saturday.
Cerruti, who dressed many a Hollywood star in his heyday, introduced “casual chic” into men’s fashion when he created the first deconstructed jacket in the 1970s.
He died at the Vercelli hospital in the northwest region of Piedmont, where he had been admitted for a hip operation, the Italian daily Corriere della Sera reported on its website.
Cerruti was one of the leading figures in men’s ready-to-wear fashion in the 20th century, with a style that was at once elegant and relaxed.
“A giant among Italian entrepreneurs has left us,” said Gilberto Pichetto, deputy minister for economic development.
Tall and slim, he always insisted he be the first to try on his creations, many of which were kept at the textile factory his grandfather founded in the northern town of Biella in 1881.
“I have always dressed the same person, myself,” he once said.
Born in 1930 in Biella, Cerruti dreamt of becoming a journalist.
But after his father died when he was 20, he was forced to give up his philosophy studies to take over the family textile factory.
In the 1960s, he met Giorgio Armani and hired him as a creator of men’s fashion.
The duo made a profound mark on the world of fashion, before Armani branched out on his own with his own fashion house in 1975.
Cerruti opened his first shop in Paris in 1967, launching his luxury brand into global fame.
“Clothes only exist from the moment someone puts them on. I would like these clothes to continue to live, to soak up life,” he said.
While French students protested in 1968, he revolutionized fashion by asking male and female models to walk down the catwalk in the same clothes.
“Trousers have given women freedom,” said the designer, who in the 1970s created his first line of women’s clothing.
The man nicknamed the “philosopher of clothing” dressed American actors Richard Gere and Robert Redford as well as French star Jean-Paul Belmondo.
He also made cameo appearances in Hollywood films “Cannes Man” (1996) and “Holy Man” (1998).
Italian fashion pioneer Nino Cerruti dies
https://arab.news/yk5ds
Italian fashion pioneer Nino Cerruti dies
- Cerruti, who dressed many a Hollywood star in his heyday, introduced “casual chic” into men’s fashion when he created the first deconstructed jacket in the 1970s
- He was one of the leading figures in men’s ready-to-wear fashion in the 20th century
Ashi Studio returns to Paris Haute Couture Week with spring/summer 2026 collection
DUBAI: Ashi Studio, the Saudi haute couture label founded by Mohammed Ashi, presented its spring/summer 2026 collection in Paris as part of Paris Haute Couture Week, joining a growing number of Arab designers showing on the official calendar.
Set against softly draped fabric, the show this week focused on structure and craftsmanship, with garments defined by corsetry, layered surfaces and precise construction.
Corseted bodices appeared throughout the collection, many extending outward at the hips to create architectural silhouettes that framed the body. These shapes were executed in materials ranging from matte fabric to polished, reflective finishes that resembled molded metal or lacquered leather.
In several looks, corsets were paired with sheer skirts, fine tulle layers or elongated panels that exposed the garment’s underlying structure.
Dresses made from feather-like strands, fringe and shredded materials contrasted with the rigidity of sculpted bodices, while embroidery and beadwork were applied in bands and clustered formations across the torso and hem.
The color palette remained restrained, moving between ivory, sand, taupe, bronze, black and deep burgundy. Darker looks included structured gowns and tailored coats with exaggerated shoulders, while lighter tones were used for sculpted white dresses, sheer wrapped pieces and feathered designs.
Accessories were kept minimal, with sculptural clutches and headpieces used sparingly to maintain focus on the garments themselves.
Ashi Studio’s presentation took place alongside shows by Arab designers including Elie Saab, Zuhair Murad, Georges Hobeika, Georges Chakra, Tony Ward and Rami Al-Ali, underscoring the region’s continued presence on the Paris Haute Couture Week schedule.
Ashi’s creations have been worn by the likes of Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Hudson, Kylie Minogue, Penelope Cruz, Deepika Padukone, Sonam Kapoor, Queen Rania of Jordan, and more.
Ashi became the first couturier from the Gulf region to join the Federation de la Haute Couture in Paris as a guest member in 2023. He also became the first designer from the Gulf to be included in the BoF 500 list, the Business of Fashion’s index of the people shaping the fashion industry in 2023.
Ashi designed the inaugural fashion line for the cabin crew of the Kingdom’s new airline, Riyadh Air, which is on track to make its maiden flight in 2025.
