About us
CHRONICLES OF BOLOGNA
The heart of Italy’s ‘70s subcultural movements.
Between the ’60s and ’70s, Bologna was a cultural centre, infused with a thousand different influences from art to politics. The cross-sectoral contaminations of that era became part of the nature of C.P. Company. The brand products evolved, not just aesthetically and technically but also as a cultural medium able to reflect external changes. A new functional aesthetic emerged, today referred to as "sportswear".
Photo Courtesy of Daniela Facchinato.
GENESIS
The cultural ferment of the '70s in Bologna provided fertile ground for Massimo Osti, the graphic designer who would later become known as the “Godfather of Sportswear.
In 1971, Osti founded Chester Perry, focusing on graphic t-shirts and experimenting with fabrics and treatments. The brand reflected his passion for comics and communicative approach to clothing. In 1978, Chester Perry became C.P. Company, enabling Osti to create avant-garde collections with new shapes and colour use.
By employing innovative techniques like garment dyeing, which created a distinctive aged effect, Massimo Osti’s creations stood out as truly unique and unlike anything else.
SUBCULTURAL INFLUENCE
Wearing C.P. Company is a true expression of identity across different communities.
In the late ’70s, the Casual subculture emerged on British football terraces, characterized by its embrace of Italian brands discovered during European travels. C.P. Company quickly became a key reference, with iconic pieces like the Goggle Jacket symbolizing the movement.
By the late ‘90s and early ‘00s, the jacket had solidified its status as an emblem of Casual culture, extending its influence beyond the UK. Over time, this connection reached cities like Marseille, as documented in Enrico Rassu’s 2022 reportage, “Marseille, Safe and Sound”.
Today, C.P. Company’s garments embody a global sense of identity and belonging, bridging different communities from Northern England to Southeast Asia.
Photo Courtesy of Glauco Canalis.
50th ANNIVERSARY
BOOK
971 - 021 An informal history of Italian sportswear.
As part of its 50th anniversary, C.P. Company has collaborated with photographer Neil Bedford to launch C.P. Company 971 – 021: An Informal History of Italian Sportswear, a 438-page monograph exploring the brand’s archive and history.
Through the personal stories of 50 passionate fans from different generations, the book “informally” chronicles the brand’s pioneering approach to designing and wearing sportswear.
Accompanying the 50 portraits that form the core of the book is a 180-page Design and Manufacturing Glossary, featuring over 200 garments from the brand’s archive, along with detailed, often anecdotal descriptions of the manufacturing techniques and the stories behind their development.