C.P. Company is the original Italian sportswear brand. With an unrivalled collection of archival clothing, the brand pioneered a design approach which cut and pasted functional design details from vintage military, work and sportswear to create hybrid garments that were executed using the most avant-garde Italian fabric technologies. This method of borrowing from the old to create something new has led to the creation of some of the most utilitarian yet wearable takes on the modern men’s wardrobe since its inception. Read on to discover more about the brand and how to get the right C.P. Company sizing for your first or next piece.
C.P. Company History
C.P. Company was founded in 1971 by Bolognese graphic designer Massimo Osti, the man considered by many as the ‘godfather of urban streetwear’. Initially, C.P. was a small apparel brand where Massimo would experiment with the application of cutting edge printing techniques he learned whilst working in the advertising industry onto t-shirts. At the time, placing prints using technologies like CMYK four-colour processing and silkscreening was unheard of, so Osti’s small collection of graphic tees was wildly innovative earning him the opportunity to design a full menswear collection.
By the mid-1970s, Osti began to move away from the graphics that defined his early work and towards an aesthetic that was very personal to him. As a collector of military surplus and vintage workwear, the former graphic designer became fascinated with the stories behind second-hand clothing and the personalities of the people who wore them –– it was this ‘worn-in’ look that he wanted to recreate in his own clothing. The fact that one of his first employees was a chemist (a move that was totally unusual for a clothing brand at the time) showcases how dedicated Osti was in chasing his vision. The discovery of garment dyeing – a process where whole garments composed of different fabrics and fibers are dyed in the same bath rather than constructed using individually pre-dyed and pre-cut fabrics – where each material reacts differently to the same dye getting interesting tone-on-tone colour effects and broken-in textures was exactly what Massimo Osti was looking for. This technique revolutionised the industry not only because of its unique look and feel but also as it reduced wastage by eliminating leftover fabric.
Osti would go on to create his most iconic design after studying a Japanese Civil Defence aviation jacket which featured two viewing lenses sewn into its hood. Excited by the prospect of recreating this, Osti begins tirelessly prototyping to find lenses durable and stiff enough to survive daily use as a jacket. Dubbed the ‘explorer jacket’ the first releases included lenses sewn into an extended collar that was pulled over the eyes. In 1988, Osti’s passion for vintage cars led C.P. Company to sponsor the legendary ‘Mille Miglia’ event –– a thousand-mile car race across Italy from Brescia to Rome. As the vintage sports cars used in the event were open-top leaving the racers exposed to inclement weather, C.P. Company decides to supply each entrant with a specially designed jacket. This perfected ‘goggle jacket’ was crafted with lenses sewn into the hood as well as the left wrist to allow wearers to see their wristwatches and featured the intelligently placed multifunctional pockets of a 1950s Swiss field jacket for carrying maps, identification and tools. This icon aka the ‘La Mille’ jacket has remained a constant throughout every season for C.P. Company with the lens being incorporated across their whole product line and somewhat of a signature of modern C.P. Company.
What does C.P. mean in C.P. company?
As Massimo Osti was a graphic designer, he was a big fan of comics. The CP found in C.P. Company stands for ‘Chester Perry’ which is the name of the factory where Bristow, the protagonist in the popular British cartoonist Frank Dickens’ comic strip, works at.
C.P. Company was initially just called ‘Chester Perry’ but was renamed in 1978 after English clothing brands Chester Barry and the legendary Fred Perry simultaneously took legal action against Massimo for use of their first name and surnames respectfully. Perhaps a happy accident, this evolution of Chester Perry to C.P. Company helps kickstart a more mature and innovative era that makes the Italian sportswear brand what it is today.
Does all C.P. Company have Certilogo?
As each piece of C.P. Company is made to such high-standards, to reduce the chances of consumers purchasing fakes as of SS19, every piece from the brand is authenticated by Certilogo – the global leaders in product authentication.
To verify the authenticity of your C.P. Company piece, scan the QR code found on the garment label or enter the 12-digit CLG code on the Certilogo website.
If you’re purchasing or own C.P. Company from before SS19 you will have to use different methods to check the authenticity of your garment.
Where are C.P. Company clothes made?
C.P. Company continues to be made in Italy with its Trinovation Lab – where all of its fabric/dye treatment research and development alongside product design is undertaken – located in Padoa.
C.P. Company Size Guide:
When a brand is as innovative as C.P. Company, materials and technologies change every season therefore affecting cut and silhouette –– what this means is that sizing is not consistent from season to season nor across categories.
One noticeable direction for C.P. Company is that while early eighties to late nineties pieces tended to fit a bit larger, modern C.P. tends to be more fitted. As always, your best bet is to take your own measurements or those of your best fitting garments and compare them with those in our C.P. Company size chart below. Otherwise, keep reading on for our generalised sizing advice for each category.
C.P. Company Jacket Sizing
One half thoughtful design, one half fabric innovation - every single piece of C.P. Company outerwear is at the forefront of innovation in both textiles and garment engineering. From lightweight hooded shells, to padded down fillings, and smart collared trench coats to weather-proof GORE-TEX utility jackets, it all begins with the garment dying of the most advanced fabrics on planet Earth to create colours and textures unlike any others in fashion. Here’s just a few of the materials C.P. Company uses:
Dyneema
Has a strength to weight ratio eight times that of steel. Lightweight yet unrivalled durability and resilience while still quick drying and weatherproof.
Chrome
A woven multifilament fabric derived from nylons used in military canvas fabrics. Creates a lustrous shiny shell that’s quick-drying, breathable and weather resistant.
CP shell
A nylon that’s soft to touch yet sturdy enough to withstand any conditions. The water-resistant outer shell is often bonded to a lightweight mesh to create a transitional fabric providing protection from the elements alongside maximum comfort.
DD shell
A premium down-filled micro-ripstop crafted from a tough 10 denier nylon which combines maximum insulation and weather resistance with a glossy finish.
P.Ri.S.M.
P.Ri.S.M. or Prismatic Rip-Stop Membrane is constructed from a two-tone ripstop and polyurethane membrane to create the ultimate in lightweight outerwear.
Taylon L
A lightweight and water-resistant textiles made from 100% taslanised nylon fibres to give a fine, matte finish that’s soft like cotton yet more quick-drying.
Taylon P
A heavier woven version of Taylon L textile that has a mixed finish of matte and glossy elements.
Nycra R
A water-resistant, breathable and climate-regulating stretch fabric made from regenerated nylon that was designed specifically for garment dyeing.
M.T.t.n
M.T.t.N or Multi Tension trilobate Nylon is a fabric constructed from two separate nylon yarns with opposing tensions which gives a fractured bold old-school retro aesthetic.
Micro-M
An evolution of the 50 Fili fabric that substitutes cotton thread for a hydrophobic polyester microfibre which is naturally water-resistant and highly breathable yet retains the compellingly rich and dense feel of the original.
50 Fili
C.P. Company’s most iconic fabric, the 50 Fili was developed by founder Massimo Osti during the early years and consists of a unique cotton and nylon weave that feels technical yet stays soft to the touch as it wears.
C.P. Company outerwear is quite fitted so if you want to layer underneath then take a size up as the sleeves especially can be quite tight. Otherwise, down and padded jackets that come with their own insulation fit true to size.
C.P. Company Shirts Sizing
C.P. Company’s selection of utilitarian overshirts mix technical performance fabrics with military-inspired shapes and utility pocketing. Made from lightweight yet weather-resistant nylon they’re the ideal layer for those days where a tee isn’t enough but a jacket is overkill.
Their shirts see classic shirting silhouettes re-engineered for the modern day with stretch corduroys, flannels and cotton fabrics peppered with subtle design details like unique zipper and button fastenings, and clever pocketing.
Overshirts tend to run a size small, so take a size up but be careful of arm length. Normal shirting has a regular fit so runs true-to-size.
C.P. Company T-shirt Sizing
Combining lightweight fabrics in easy-wearing cuts, C.P. company’s selection of graphic tees and pique polos are garment dyed to perfection — take your pick between versatile neutrals, faded and broken-in textures and bold and bright colourways.
C.P. Company t-shirts are quite fitted, we recommend sizing up if you want a more boxy oversized fit.
C.P. Company Trousers Sizing
Offering a wide range of styles from sporty fleece sweatpants to technical nylon cargo trousers, what unites C.P. Company’s bottoms are a plethora of zipped and intelligently placed pockets and an expertly cut ergonomic fit.
C.P. Company’s cargos and trackpants typically fit true-to-size. We don’t recommend sizing up as they are typically cut with a long leg length.
C.P. Company Shorts Sizing
Whether it’s nylon swimshorts in dazzling garment-dyed colourways on holiday, or uber-comfy fleece sweat shorts worn whilst relaxing at home, one thing’s for sure with a pair of C.P. Company shorts –– there’s plenty of pockets for your personal effects.
Cut to sit perfectly above the knee with elasticated adjustable waistbands (and sometimes hems), C.P. Company shorts fit true-to-size.
Undersixteen C.P. Company Sizing:
Undersixteen, as the name suggests, is a range which sees some of C.P. Company’s most iconic silhouettes recreated for the younger generation. Expect miniature versions of technical outerwear pieces like the iconic Goggle jacket, signature lens overshirts, hoodies and sweatshirts, alongside garment-dyed tees and super comfy sweatpants and sweatshorts. Each piece is designed by the same experts with the same level of attention to detail as the adult collection.
With sizes ranging from ages 2 to 14 going up in two-year increments, remember that C.P. Company runs fitted so to get the most out of your investment we recommend taking a size up.