CP Company is credited with translating the functionality of military wear into everyday casual wear and inventing the "garment dyeing" technique. This Italian brand shows an extraordinary commitment to the fabrics of its products, and we interviewed Stefano Polato, who holds the crucial position of "fabric creator" at this company. What sets CP Company apart from other brands, and why has it remained "special" even after half a century since its founding?

A unique and innovative approach inherited from the founder.

CP Company was founded in Bologna, Italy, in 1971, nearly 50 years ago, by Massimo Osti, who was active as a graphic designer. It is an epoch-making brand that is said to have been the first in the world to incorporate the functional designs and details of military and workwear into casual fashion, which are commonplace today.

"Massimo has evolved his creations with an approach that is completely different from existing fashion brands. Among his ideas, the most important was his focus on the superior functionality of military and workwear, and his incorporation of its specifications and details into highly fashionable products."

The person who said this, Stafano Polato, is a key figure at CP Company, serving as a fabric creator. It's a rather unusual position, and for good reason. Even in Italy, where there are many artisanal brands, he is a very rare presence.


"When we first started, industrial materials not intended for clothing were extremely difficult to incorporate into everyday life, and it was a time when no one even considered it. However, Massimo and the CP Company teamed up with textile and fabric suppliers to jointly develop entirely new materials that were originally intended for other industries but could be used in fashion. Through this extremely challenging endeavor, they developed a variety of raw materials and processing technologies. A prime example of this is the revolutionary dyeing method called 'garment dyeing'."

"Garment dyeing" literally refers to the process of dyeing garments (products). In other words, it is a dyeing method that applies color to the entire product, or a part of it, in a state as close as possible to a finished product, including sewing, rather than at the yarn or fabric stage. Naturally, the effect extends to the sewing threads and woven labels, and controlling the durability, texture, and shrinkage rate of the fabric is extremely difficult. CP Company is known as a revolutionary and groundbreaking technology, having been the first in the world to successfully mass-produce garments using this method.


"We established a dedicated garment dyeing factory in Italy and have produced many products through repeated testing and challenges. As a result, we have been able to offer items in special colors such as vibrant pink and yellow, moving beyond the era when we only offered black, gray, and navy. Previously, dyeing synthetic fibers such as nylon and polyester was much more difficult than dyeing natural materials such as cotton. However, we have continued and inherited the approach that Massimo took on, and have developed a wide variety of materials, from industrial to sporty."