The name Stone Island is derived from Polish-British pre-modernist writer
Joseph Conrad's novels wherein the words "stone" and "island"
appear most frequently. According to founder Massimo Osti, his novels' exploration of "boats and sea" moved him to create a brand with "[a] new sensibility oriented to science instead of fashion". Stone Island focuses on
technical apparel research, development, and manufacturing. It is known for its approach to fabrication through a range of
dyeing techniques and surface treatments. These include the use of
Raso Gommato in 1983, thermosensitive fabric in 1987, rubber wool in 1987, and reflective fabric in 1991. Originally, the patches were green edged, but from around the year 2000 onwards they became black edged. Stone Island was initially popular with "wealthy middle-class teens" in Italy, but by the mid-1980s, the brand had gained popularity among the football casual subculture in the United Kingdom. As a result, the brand became associated with football hooliganism, and some venues and pubs banned customers who wore the brand. The brand's association with
football hooliganism was reinforced by Stone Island itself who incorporated the material Kevlar into jackets as Kevlar can offer protection against knives during violent clashes. The brand was brought into the mainstream by several films released in the early 2000s, including
The Football Factory and
Green Street, which featured prominent characters wearing the brand. Its presence in Canada and the U.S. starting in the early 2000s was bolstered by streetwear and
hip hop culture. ==References==