A LEGACY OF LUXURY
From its Florentine heritage to its faultless tailoring, Stefano Ricci offers the ultimate in Italian high style
Exclusivity, impeccable craftsmanship and a discerning design language that prides itself on its Florentine heritage and old-world business ethos is what makes the Stefano Ricci brand the top choice for those who appreciate fine menswear. And only those in the know can understand the intricacies and attention to detail that goes into every Stefano Ricci garment or accessory, all of which are 100 per cent made in Italy.
Designer Stefano Ricci founded his eponymous brand with his wife Claudia in 1972. Established and based in Florence, the brand started off by selling handmade ties, and quickly grew to include a whole range of madeto-measure suits, ready-to-wear and its now-signature crocodile leather goods. The company remains a family business to this day, with the founder’s eldest son Niccolò acting as CEO, and youngest son Filippo as creative director.
With admirable foresight, Stefano Ricci opened its first boutique in Mainland China at The Portman Ritz-carlton, Shanghai in 1993, establishing a foothold in what was to become the world’s foremost luxury market. Today, the company— which reported a turnover of €144 million last year—has 14 boutiques on the mainland and has expanded further into Asia with stores in Phnom Penh, Singapore, Dubai, Mumbai, New Delhi, and Macau. It opened its 60th boutique on the ground floor of The Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong this August. In the US, Stefano Ricci stores can be found in New York, Las Vegas, Beverly Hills and Miami.
According to Niccolò, the brand’s expansion plan “is an important development, made possible by the growth of our production capacity, which aims, as always, to seek the absolute ‘made in Italy’ quality.” Meanwhile, Fillipo has revealed that the brand’s autumn/winter 2018/19 collection is devoted to the concept of speed. “For this reason, we decided to present it at the Mugello Circuit, which is surrounded by beautiful Tuscan hills to showcase our family’s passion for racing and vintage cars. The cars and racetrack also connect to today’s dynamic, fast-paced men.” The new collection ranges from sportswear to garments made for the city, including a deep blue jogging suit in cashmere and silk, a grey wool down blouson with a silk lining that is handprinted with one of the brand’s iconic tie patterns, a down blouson sporting a luxurious mink fur collar, and jeans featuring an embroidered two-toned SR monogram on the back pocket. The Stefano Ricci man, according to Fillippo, is elegant at all times of the day, uncompromising when it comes to quality, and always in control while staying up to speed with everything in today’s fastmoving environment. Freedom of movement is thus guaranteed by soft leathers, tactile superfine fabrics and materials, and modern designs—all hallmarks of the Stefano Ricci brand. Other notable pieces in the collection include deconstructed and unlined jackets that range from a two-button jacket without lapels to the contemporary cut of a light and waterproof two-button jacket, made for travel, in technical silk. For more formal occasions, there are striped and patterned suits, as well as a peak lapel cocktail jacket that is as black as asphalt, set off by the alluring glimmer of patterned precious silk fabric from Tuscany’s ancient silk mill, the Antico Setificio Fiorentino.