Moncler köper upp Stone Island

Idag kom den något överraskande nyheten att det italienska designermärket Stone Island joinar Moncler – genom en deal på 1.4 miljarder dollar. De går samman för att fortsätta utforska och utveckla en delad vision kring lyx och mode – samt stärka sin position hos kommande generationer.

Stone Island grundades av Carlo Rivetti och Massimo Osti 1983. Nu tar Moncler det italienska varumärket under sina vingar för att stärka dess inflytande hos den nya generationen – samt för att ta SI till nya höjder av lyx. Moncler kommer bidra med sin kunskap och erfarenhet av handel med den amerikanska och asiatiska marknaden – samt introducera Stone Island till sin hållbarhetskultur där de är ”Leader of the Textile, Apparel & Luxury Goods” enligt Dow Jones hållbarhetsindex.

Som ett första steg kommer Moncler köpa strax över 50% av Stone Island från grundaren Carlo Rivetti – samt 19,9% från hans familjemedlemmar. Målet är sedan att Moncler ska köpa de övriga 30% – som för tillfället ägs av investeraren Temasek. Dealen väntas gå i lås under 2021.

För den som undrar hur det kommer påverka Stone Island och Moncler, har de meddelat att båda varumärkena kommer fortsätta vara independent. Monclers ordförande och verkställande direktör Remo Ruffini säger följande i ett uttalande:

“We are coming together at a challenging moment both for Italy and the world, when everything seems uncertain and unpredictable […] But I believe it is precisely in these moments that we need new energy and new inspiration to build our tomorrow,”

Se uttalande från Remo Ruffini och Carlo Rivetti nedan och lär dig mer om historian om hur Stone Island grundades i vår nya ”Behind the brand”-serie.

Remo Ruffini

I have always worked to build a strong brand where uniqueness and closeness to the consumer have been the cornerstones of a development always beyond trends and conventions.

Sharing the same vision leads us today to joining forces with Stone Island to write our future together.

Led by an entrepreneur of high renown, Stone Island is a great success story, a company that has built an exceptionally strong relationship with its community, offering a highly distinctive product, as a result of unique technical skills and an absolute clarity in its positioning. It is a story of Italian excellence.

Moncler, together with Stone Island, will offer to new generations a new concept of luxury, far from the traditional stereotypes in which young people no longer recognize themselves. We believe in an open and engaged universe, which thrives on community, experiences and cultural exchanges, where communication is always interaction and where the aspirational goes beyond possession to become “being part of” and “belonging.”

We’re coming together – continues Remo Ruffini – at a challenging moment both for Italy and the world, when everything seems uncertain and unpredictable. But I believe it is precisely in these moments that we need new energy and new inspiration to build our tomorrow.

This is a union of two Italian brands with the same values, the same management rigor, the same passion for innovation, the same love for their people and the same desire for the future.

It’s the celebration of the resilience of a country that no crisis can stop.

Carlo Rivetti

Remo and I have decided to combine forces and visions to meet together and with greater strength than ever the challenges we all face. We share the same roots, similar entrepreneurial journeys and the utmost respect for the profound values of our brands and our people. And we are Italians.

And so, begins a new chapter for Stone Island, the start of a journey that will help our brand to reach its full potential, while maintaining its strong brand identity and continuing to nurture its culture of research and experimentation.

Our headquarter in Ravarino will remain the beating heart of the brand and a center of excellence that will be further enhanced and my team and I will continue, in our current roles, to do what we have been doing with great passion for many years.

This is a partnership that represents a great opportunity for the continued development of both companies and which will help Stone Island accelerate its international growth thanks to Moncler’s experience in both the physical and digital retail world.

This is also an opportunity to share and grow for all the people of Moncler and Stone Island with whose contribution we will continue to write, together, a story of ingenuity, creativity and professionalism to honor Italy in the wider world.