Costume National

Edgy-chic. This expression defines the particular style of CoSTUME NATIONAL, one of the most successful Italian fashion houses, famous all around the world. Rock & roll culture, minimal lines and refined fabrics are what characterize the work of Ennio Capasa, founder and Creative Director of CoSTUME NATIONAL. Modern and trendy collections appreciated by the youngest as well as the most classical clients.

Born in 1986 from in idea of Ennio Capasa and his brother Carlo, actual CEO of the Italian fashion brand, CoSTUME NATIONAL started with producing only womenswear collections. Ennio Capasa was just coming back from Japan, where he had worked for Yohji Yamamoto for two years, completing his training in the fashion world after his studies in the Accademia di Belle Arti in Milan.

Once he was back in his native country, Ennio Capasa launched on the Italian catwalks his first women’s collection. It was immediately clear that CoSTUME NATIONAL’s style was characterized by minimalism, simple but precise lines that define a sensual and thin silhouette, perfectly fitting women’s (and later men’s) bodies, exalting every curve and shape. Unique fabrics, refined materials and precious embroidery applied to almost total-black outfits give CoSTUME NATIONAL creations an unmistakable sense of elegance reached mixing past and classical taste with modern and innovative techniques.

CoSTUME NATIONAL group soon expanded its activity and by 1991 it was already launching the women’s collection on international runways, starting from Paris to reach New York and the American market. Flagship stores were opened in Milan, Rome, Los Angeles, Paris and New York, while the creative head Ennio Capasa was working on the new menswear lines, which was presented online in 2000, a true demonstration of the strong relationship between the Italian fashion house and the new medias, the favorite means to spread its name and fame.

During its only 25 years of activity, CoSTUME NATIONAL has reached a popularity that very few fashion houses can boast, with a turnover that in 2008 was estimated to be around 100 millions of Euros and is expected to grow exponentially. The Italian fashion group now includes three major brands: Costume national, the prêt-a-porter line for women, Costume national Homme, the menswear, and C’N’C Costume national, the streetswear inspired young and trendy line. Next to men-and-women’s collections, CoSTUME NATIONAL has developed lines of accessories and a wide range of products from bags and shoes to eyewear and perfumes with CoSTUME NATIONAL scents.

In recent years the Italian brand has been spreading its influence also in other fields, especially in the two and four-wheels. 2005 was the year of the DUCATI Black Dogo motorbike, which inspired a CoSTUME NATIONAL special collection of clothes that bear the name of the Italian motorcycle brand Ducati. For the 21th birthday of the Italian fashion maison, among the initiatives to celebrate the event, a special edition of the Alfa 147 was “dressed” by CoSTUME NATIONAL, giving birth to the Alfa 147 C’N’C 21. The same year, a particular bottle of Absolut Vodka dressed in black vinyl with the image of two catwomen on and the book 21 (a collection of photographs showing Ennio Capasa’s career) was launched. Surely enough, a great way to celebrate the Italian fashion house birthday.

The brilliant mind of Ennio Capasa created lots of innovative products, from clothes to accessories, among which dominates the “Solar bag”, patented in 2009. Able to supply power to every kind of technological device, from mobile phones to iPods, thanks to a solar panel system concealed in the same fabrics, the bag received the “Chi è chi award” for the best eco-friendly fashion product. But this is only one of the several initiatives in which CoSTUME NATIONAL is engaged with environmental causes.

Apart from the “Solar bag”, CoSTUME NATIONAL is very famous among the international jet- set for its elegant and modern creations. Icon and stars from the world of music and cinema such as Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Tom Cruise and his wife Katie Holmes or Angelina Jolie love the edgy- chic style of CoSTUME NATIONAL, bringing the made-in-Italy label to the crest of success.

CoSTUME NATIONAL Showroom

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