A pioneering brand history ASPESI was founded by Alberto Aspesi in 1969 as a shirts brand and the first garment ever produced was a leopard print shirt for men.
In a time when the benchmark in the fashion industry were the Parisian haute couture houses, the Italian prêt-à-porter industry started focusing on materials, wearable elegance, and offering new horizons to explore.
The brand evolved accordingly, producing pieces that were not only beautiful but also wearable and functional. By the end of the 70s, ASPESI expanded its product line, created collections for both men and women and established partnership collaborations with prominent designers like Franco Moschino, Walter Albini and Marco Zanini. In November 2020 Lawrence Steele has been appointed Creative Director.
A pioneer in launching the iconic down jacket, Alberto Aspesi was the first to introduce the item as a staple outerwear piece instead of a performance-based or weekend garment. The idea behind the launch of the down jacket came about during a chat between Alberto Aspesi and Franco Moschino, who gave his name to the product. ASPESI further credits its success to additional well cut, quality-led iconic classics including the field jacket or the many varieties of Japanese chambray shirts.
A constant and rigorous textilere search has always been at the core of ASPESI’s essence and consistently guarantees product quality and approachable price points to the modern and discerning consumer. The constant unorthodox and innovative approach dedicated to the products manifests itself in diverse artistic collaborations, starting with the advertising campaigns for ASPESI that has always chosen photographers who are able to capture and interpret the spirit of the brand (Peter Lindbergh, Robert Frank, Oliviero Toscani, Paolo Roversi).
The love for art remains a key value of the brand, from photographic images to architecture: the stores have always been designed with sought-after and niche furnishings, as well as with a range of accessories and clothes from other brands, as to recreate a "small market".
To this day, ASPESI remains faithful to its minimalist, sophisticated and timeless approach, and this is why it never goes out of style.
In 2017 ASPESI was acquired by the Italian private equity group Armònia SGR. The brand currently operates 15 directly managed stores & shop in shop and is present in more than 600 points of sale across the world.