Costume National

CoSTUME NATIONAL (own spelling), abbreviated as CN, or the EC SpA (named after the founder Ennio Capasa ) is an internationally renowned, Italian fashion company founded in 1986 in Milan and since then offers clothing for men and since 1993 also for men as well as accessories and perfume in the upper price segment.

Company History

In 1986, the Italian fashion designer Ennio Capasa founded ( born March 12, 1960 in Lecce) with his brother Carlo Capasa in Milan, the fashion company Costume National SpA. Literally translated from French, the term means ' national dress '. In the early days of Capasa brothers whose parents had operated in southern Italy, a luxury fashion boutique under the name Smart. Ennio Capasa, a graduate of the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera, who had worked from 1982 to 1985 through the contacts of his parents for Yohji Yamamoto in Japan, took over in the own company, the role of creative director, while his brother served as CEO. Yamamoto had Capasa encouraged to start his own fashion company. Carlo Capasa was the brand Romeo Gigli since 1983 partner.

The first collection for women fashion under the name CoSTUME NATIONAL became even 1986 - but with little success - presented in Milan. The company made up in subsequent years with avant-garde and modern sporting, purist fashion in muted colors, often in black, and narrow sections slowly a name. Ennio Capasa, a renowned rock ' n ' roll fan can be up today inspired by the world of rock music. As of 1991, women's fashion was presented with greater success at the Paris Fashion Week. There Ennio Capasa met avant-garde designers such as Martin Margiela, Ann Demeulemeester or John Galliano, where he was based. However, the international breakthrough came in 1993 with the menswear line CoSTUME NATIONAL Homme. 1994, the annual turnover was approximately 4 million DM, with the proceeds less by a good press coverage came about as by a growing community of fans of the brand.

As of 1995, the company exclusive worldwide CoSTUME NATIONAL boutiques opened, for example, in Milan, Rome, Paris, New York City, Los Angeles and Tokyo. The mid-1990s CoSTUME NATIONAL has been mentioned in one breath with Helmut Lang and compared Ennio Capasas creations of the 1990s, with the achievements of Giorgio Armani in the 1980s. Over the years, the fashion portfolio was expanded to include footwear and accessories such as leather goods, perfume (from 2002) and eyeglasses (from 2008). Particularly for shoes, so sometimes one-third of sales were generated, and bags, the company was able to assert against the countless competitors. 1997 CoSTUME NATIONAL menswear collection was the guest star in the Florentine fashion trade show Pitti Immagine.

From the early 2000s there were some long seasons, the high-priced CoSTUME NATIONAL Luxe collection ( black label ) with haute couture -like workmanship and materials. First time in 2001 was presented via live stream a CoSTUME NATIONAL Fashion Show on the internet. In 2003, a turnover of 50 million euros was achieved. 2004, priced slightly niedgriger positioned and thought for a younger audience second-line C'N'C CoSTUME NATIONAL, was launched in licensing collaboration with the Italian clothing manufacturer Ittierre SpA for men and women. 2008 in collaboration with Alfa Romeo a limited edition of 1000 pieces Alfa special model named Alfa 147 C'N'C COSTUME NATIONAL was produced, which was introduced in 2007.

The EC SpA maintains its own production since 1999, including a sewing plant in Thiene in Vicenza, own shoe factory in Fosso at Padua (since 2004 ) and a leather processing plant in Lecce. On your own website an online store was operated from 2008 to 2012. In 2008, a turnover of almost 100 million euros was achieved, but which fell in the following year to 70 million euros. 2010 Capasa brothers sold 17 % stake in Costume National for an undisclosed sum to the Japanese investment bank Sequedge based in Hong Kong to promote the expansion in the Asian market. From 2010 Ennio Capasa also collaborated as a designer with the Italian fashion chain Oviesse few seasons for his own fashion line in the lower price segment called EEQUAL E = CoSTUME NATIONAL, which was sold through the Oviesse stores. Mid-2011 awarded Costume National in addition to the production of second-line starting in 2004, the production of the CN main line and the entire sales of the brand to the supplier Ittierre. Mid-2013, the contract was terminated with respect to the main line Ittierre and distribution. The CN main line is now being produced again on their own using the fashion company Pier SpA from Casale sul Sile. Beginning in January 2014 gave Costume National announced that the second-line C'N'C set and will be replaced by the newly created second-line CoSTUME and CoSTUME. The new second line is made from the Indian manufacturer FFI Fibres & Fabrics International, which has production facilities in Italy.

The prior 2013 there were their own CoSTUME NATIONAL Stores in Milan, Rome, Paris, New York City, Fukuoka, Hong Kong (3x) and Tokyo. Business in Los Angeles was closed in early 2011.

Collections

Current collections

  • CoSTUME NATIONAL - high-priced women's collection since 1986; presented in 1991 at the Paris women's fashion weeks
  • CoSTUME NATIONAL Homme - high-priced men's collection since 1993; presented in 1999 at the Milan men's fashion week
  • CoSTUME and CoSTUME - youthful license second line for men and women in the upper middle price segment since 2014
  • CoSTUME NATIONAL Scents - perfume range for men and women since 2002

Former Collections

  • C'N'C CoSTUME NATIONAL - youthful license second line for men and women in the upper middle price segment from 2004 to 2013; presented at the Milan women's fashion week ( women's and men's collection in the same fashion show )
Tracht Brera Academy Purism Tokyo Motor Show Helmut Lang (artist)
195127
de