Nino Cerruti, an Italian fashion designer and businessman, passed away on Saturday at the age of 91 at Vercelli, Italy.

The Lanificio Fratelli Cerruti company posted a statement regarding his passing on Facebook: "For the family, friends, collaborators, and employees of Lanificio Cerruti, and the entire world of Italian fashion, today is a very sad day, because of the death of Signor Nino."

The statement paid tribute to Cerruti, who was described as an "extraordinary designer" and a "wonderful mentor".

 

 

 

 

 

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The company also noted that he would be remembered for his passion for fashion and commitment to his work. "Through his commitment and dedication to his work, which for him was his mission, he will become an everlasting example of a life lived in the constant search for style and harmony."

Born in Italy on September 25, 1930, Cerruti inherited his family's textile company at 20 after his father's death. He opened the first Cerruti 1881 store in Paris in 1967. During the mid-1960s, he worked with up-and-coming Italian fashion designers.

Additionally, Cerruti created the deconstructed jacket. He was also Giorgio Armani and Veronique Nichanian's mentor. Then in 1994, he became the official designer of Ferrari's F1 team.

Italy and the fashion industry mourns

Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, deputy minister for economic development of Italy, expressed his sorrow over the loss of Cerruti. "I am very saddened by the death of the manager and stylist Nino Cerruti: with him, a giant of Italian entrepreneurship and a significant piece of Biella's history has passed away."

He then continued, "I will always remember him with affection and esteem, for his intuitions, competence, and foresight with which he made Italian fashion great, exporting our Made in Italy in the world."

The world's most influential men's fashion organization, Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, paid tribute to Cerruti on Sunday by releasing a statement that highlighted his contributions to the industry.

 

 

 

 

 

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"Nino Cerruti was one of the most influential designers of men's luxury ready-to-wear in the 20th century. Innovator, industrialist, and a great designer, he revolutionized high-end men's fashion by inventing the first deconstructed jacket in the 1970s," the statement read.

"Nino Cerruti succeeds both with his eponymous house and with the family business Lanificio Fratelli Cerruti. Nino Cerruti defined the concept of 'style' as 'a perfect blend of culture and art,' a term he preferred to 'elegance,' which according to him had 'a terrible old taste,'" it continued.

Fédération de la Haute Couture President Ralph Toledano hailed Cerruti for being a creative genius and a great entrepreneur. "Nino Cerruti was undoubtedly a creative genius, a passionate man with an extraordinary eye, but also a great entrepreneur."