Considered the original Italian sportswear brand, C.P. Company was founded in 1971 by designer Mr. Massimo Osti, internationally recognized as the “godfather of urban sportswear”. Combining science and art to create new fabrications such as Nycra and Chrome, the C.P. labs also use innovative colour-dyeing and re-colouring techniques.
The final result are pieces of clothing which are easy-to-wear, feeling like you’ve always owned from the moment you first try it on, but at the same time distinctively non-conformist – even ironic – in its details. Look out for the label’s signature goggle hoods on its jackets.
In 1987, Osti used a Japanese Civil Defence piece (from his personal archive) that had two lenses sewn into the fabric at eye level. Osti grew excited about the idea of making a jacket with lenses sewn into the fabric. After some R&D, the first prototype was a four-pocket field jacket, Saharian-style, which featured lenses sewn into an extended collar which later became know as the Explorer Jacket.
Following further research into protective hoods used by the army, C.P. Company created several prototypes over the course of 1987. Anti-gas goods, a new inspiration, gave Osti the idea of moving the lenses from the collar to the hood itself. From this iteration, the iconic Goggle Jacket makes its debut in 1988. The Goggles, and to a similar extent, a single lens, continues to be ever-present on many pieces throughout the collection.
Photography by @01.ps
