Kiton
Native name
Ciro Paone S.p.A.
TypePrivate
IndustryFashion (menswear)
Founded1968 (1968)
Arzano, Campania, Italy
FounderCiro Paone
Key people
Antonio De Matteis (CEO), Maria Giovanna Paone (vice-president and the creative director) Antonio Paone (president of Kiton USA)
Revenue€160 million [1] (2022)
Number of employees
About 850 (2022)

Kiton is an Italian fashion house founded by Ciro Paone in Arzano, NA 1968.[2][3][4][5]

Founded in Arzano, Naples in 1968 by Ciro Paone, Kiton is an Italian clothing company with its roots in traditional Italian tailoring. By the end of 2022, Kiton had 60 monobrand stores and 300 wholesale accounts worldwide.[6]

The company's slogan is "Il meglio del meglio più uno", translates to "the best of the best plus one".[7]

Kiton operates five manufacturing facilities located in Arzano (for their primary production), Caserta (for sportswear), Parma (for outerwear), Fidenza (for knitwear), and Biella (for textiles).[6][8][9][10]

History

Kiton is the trademark brand of the company Ciro Paone SpA, a company founded in 1956.[11] It was set up at Arzano, in the province of Naples, in 1968.[12][13]

The name Kiton derives from "chiton", the ceremonial tunic worn by the ancient Greeks and Rome to pray to the gods of Olympus.[14][15]

In 1995, Kiton launched a line of womenswear.[16] In 1999 Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, President of the Italian Republic, made Ciro Paone a member of the Order of Merit for Labour ("Cavaliere del Lavoro").[17]

In 2008, Ciro Paone purchased suits and other wardrobe items that once belonged to Edward VIII, the Duke of Windsor, from a 1998 Sotheby's auction. These items were later showcased by Paone at the Excelsior hotel in Florence, Italy, during the biannual Pitti Uomo menswear show. The display highlighted the historical sartorial elements Paone incorporated into his contemporary designs for Kiton suits.[18]

In 2009, Kiton bought the Carlo Barbera woollen mill, which had been founded in 1949 in Biella.[19] This allowed Kiton to work with delicate fibers such as viscose and create specialized yarns, dyes, and weaves.[20]

In 2013, Kiton acquired Palazzo Ferré, a building on Via Pontaccio that was home to the Gianfranco Ferré label for 14 years. After the restoration, it was planned that the second floor would house Kiton's showroom and offices, while the first floor would become a tailor's shop.[21][22]

In 2013, Kiton launched its retail operations in India.[23] In 2015, Kiton launched its eyewear collection,[24] and opened a 2,500-square-foot store in San Francisco.[25] In 2017 to mark the opening of Pitti Immagine Uomo 91, Ciro Paone received the Pitti Immagine career award.[26]

In 2018, Kiton launched an athleisure collection, called KNT (Kiton New Texture). The KNT brand is owned by twins Walter and Mariano de Matteis, the latest generation of the Kiton family.[27][28] Also, in 2018, Sergio Mattarella, President of the Italian Republic, awarded Kiton the Premio Leonardo Qualità Italia.[29][30]

Ciro Paone, the founder of Kiton, passed away at 88 in his home in Naples, Italy on October 27, 2021.[31][32][33][34]

In 2022, Kiton announced a new collaboration with Beatrice Venezi.[35] In July 2023, Kiton began dressing the team and players of the London club Tottenham Hotspur for official events.[36][37]

In July 2023, Kiton opened a 350-square-meter flagship store in Seoul in Cheongdam-dong Luxury Fashion Street.[38]

School of Advanced Tailoring

In 2000, Kiton launched a training project with the foundation of the School of Advanced Tailoring, aimed at training new generations of tailors.[39] Kiton developed this course with two main goals: to prepare young people to enter the labor market and to ensure that the workforce is constantly updated.[40]

The majority of the students hail from Naples, though there are also applications from international students. Approximately 80% of these students secure employment with Kiton or at other companies.[41][42]

The institution offers a three-year program aimed at training individuals between the ages of 16 and 21 for professional roles. The curriculum, delivered by in-house instructors, primarily focuses on jacket creation during the first two years. In the third year, students are encouraged to pick and delve deeper into a specific production stage.[43][44]

Production

Kiton operates in the luxury goods sector and offers bespoke service, characterized by hand-cut and basted tailored suits, as well as ready-to-wear men's and women's garments.

Kiton maintains an integrated supply chain, with five company-owned factories:[8][15]

  • Coats, jackets, shirts, ties, shoes, and small leather goods are produced at the company's headquarters in Arzano.[45]
  • Leather and bomber jackets are crafted in Collecchio.
  • Knitwear originates from Fidenza.
  • Jeans are produced in Marcianise, in the province of Caserta.
  • Fabrics are processed and developed at Biella, Kiton's proprietary woolen mill.

As of the end of 2022, the company employs about 850 employees and sells its products in 73 countries, with over 60 monobrand stores and 300 wholesale accounts globally.[46][47]

Management

Antonio de Matteis (CEO)

Antonio de Matteis, the nephew of Ciro Paone, is the CEO and joint Creative Director of menswear at Kiton Group.[48] Born in Naples in 1964, he started his career at Kiton under his uncle Ciro Paone, the founder of Kiton. In 1996, Antonio joined the Ciro Paone spa shareholder package, acquiring a 10% stake. By 2007, Ciro Paone appointed him as the CEO of the group. In 2018, Antonio initiated "Knt (Kiton new textures)", the first collection by his sons, Mariano and Walter De Matteis, representing the third generation of the Kiton family. In 2021–2022, Kiton saw a 60% increase in turnover, reaching €162 million.[49][50]

Maria Giovanna Paone (president)

Maria Giovanna Paone, daughter of Ciro Paone, is the president and the creative director of the brand's womenswear.[51][52]

Maria Giovanna joined Kiton in 1986 and, under her leadership in 1995, introduced a line of womenswear. Paone currently holds the positions of president and creative director of the womenswear division at Kiton. She is an advocate for slow fashion and has been instrumental in expanding the women's collection with new accessories. Under Paone, the women's collection emphasized tailored jackets suitable for a range of settings and customers. By 2013, womenswear accounted for 20% of Kiton's total growth, with a marked presence in international markets, including Japan, Korea, Canada, and the U.S. The line's success also led to the development of a women's accessories range. Paone recognized the growing interest of women in high-end tailoring, a field often associated with men. In recognition of her contributions to the fashion industry, Paone received the Italian Forbes CEO Award in the Fashion category in 2021.

Antonio Paone (president of Kiton USA)

Antonio Paone is the president of Kiton USA. He began his career at Kiton, working from the ground up, starting as a driver and later becoming a fabric scout across Europe. By 2004, he had risen to the role of commercial director and subsequently oversaw Kiton's US operations. Under his leadership, Kiton has expanded, notably with a new women's store on Madison Avenue, and he also spearheaded the growth of Sartorio Napoli, a Kiton family brand.[53]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "CIRO PAONE S.P.A.". Il Sole 24 Ore (in Italian). 2023.
  2. ↑ Golden Pages (ed.). "Azienda leader nel settore della migliore sartoria italiana, ad Arzano (NA), la Kiton è rinomata in tutto il mondo" (in Italian). Archived from the original on 29 November 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  3. ↑ New York Times, ed. (22 April 2014). "Naples, a Haven of Hand Work". The New York Times.
  4. ↑ "Art, Charity and Fashion Event - Milano da Bere". milanodabere.it (in Italian). 12 May 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  5. ↑ Temporeale, Redazione (15 November 2021). "Kiton, il marchio di alta sartoria napoletana". Temporeale Quotidiano (in Italian). Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  6. 1 2 Zargani, Luisa (5 December 2022). "Kiton Grows Business, Expands Retail Network". WWD. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  7. ↑ "Milano Fashion Week: l'uomo essenziale di Kiton". Affaritaliani.it (in Italian). 22 June 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  8. 1 2 Ausilio, Claudia (27 October 2021). "Addio a Ciro Paone della Kiton: la sartoria napoletana scelta dagli uomini più ricchi del mondo". Vesuvio Live (in Italian). Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  9. ↑ IT, FashionNetwork com. "Kiton apre al pubblico il Palazzo di via Pontaccio per "The Elegant Man"". FashionNetwork.com (in Italian). Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  10. ↑ "De Matteis (Kiton): "Vendere azienda? Mai. Ora puntiamo su Asia, e-commerce e relocation"". FashionNetwork.com (in Italian). Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  11. ↑ la Repubblica, ed. (11 June 2014). "Kiton, l'alta sartoria napoletana che ha stregato gli Stati Uniti" (in Italian).
  12. ↑ ""Il futuro dell'eleganza è la comodità": lo dice Kiton". Esquire (in Italian). 28 March 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  13. ↑ "Antonio De Matteis (Kiton) eletto ambasciatore del Made in Italy da NIAF". FashionNetwork.com (in Italian). Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  14. ↑ la Repubblica, ed. (23 February 2017). ""Mi volevano a casa, sono diventata manager". Il riscatto nell'alta sartoria di Maria Giovanna Paone" (in Italian).
  15. 1 2 Il Mattino, ed. (14 April 2017). "Kiton, il successo di ago e filo" (in Italian).
  16. ↑ DeAcetis, Joseph. "The Capitalist Touch: Kiton's Giovanna Paone Unveils Luxury Women's Collection". Forbes. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  17. ↑ Fuschetto, Cristian (23 November 2020). "I Cavalieri del Lavoro nominati nel 1999". Federazione Nazionale dei Cavalieri del Lavoro (in Italian). Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  18. ↑ Kissel, William (1 January 2007). "Icons & Innovators: Kiton: The English Beat". Robb Report. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  19. ↑ "Da Sace un milione di euro al Lanificio Carlo Barbera (Kiton) per portare i suoi tessuti nel mondo". Il Sole 24 Ore (in Italian). 21 February 2018.
  20. ↑ Napoleon (17 September 2023). "Why Kiton is Worth Every Cent: The Artistry and Nuance Behind Kiton's Exquisite Luxury Tailoring". blogninja. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  21. ↑ Turra, Alessandra (27 November 2013). "Kiton Acquires Palazzo Ferré". WWD. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  22. ↑ Chris (27 November 2013). "Kiton Announces Acquisition of Palazzo Ferré". Elite Traveler. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  23. ↑ "Clothing brand Kiton comes to India". Deccan Herald. 19 October 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  24. ↑ Szmydke, Paulina (26 September 2015). "Kiton Launches Eyewear Line in Paris". WWD. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  25. ↑ Palmieri, Jean E. (11 March 2015). "Kiton Opening San Francisco Store". WWD. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  26. ↑ "Moda: Pitti Uomo, mostra tributo a Ciro Paone - Notizie - Ansa.it". Agenzia ANSA (in Italian). 10 January 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  27. ↑ "Walter e Mariano De Matteis di KNT". MANINTOWN (in Italian). 13 June 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  28. ↑ Reddinger, Paige (5 October 2018). "Kiton Gets Hip with New Urbanwear Collection KNT". Robb Report. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  29. ↑ "I vincitori dei Premi Leonardo Qualità 2017 premiati a Palazzo Barberini". Comitato Leonardo (in Italian). Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  30. ↑ "Premio Leonardo Qualità Italia a Herno - Moda - Ansa.it". Agenzia ANSA (in Italian). 23 February 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  31. ↑ Salibian, Sandra; Carrera, Martino; Turra, Alessandra; Palmieri, Jean E. (27 October 2021). "Kiton's Founder Ciro Paone Dies at 88". WWD. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  32. ↑ Spötter, Ole (28 October 2021). "Kiton-Gründer Ciro Paone im Alter von 88 Jahren verstorben". FashionUnited (in German). Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  33. ↑ ""Ein Visionär, eine Legende": Italien trauert um Kiton-Gründer". textilwirtschaft.de (in German). Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  34. ↑ "The Death of the Father of Sartorial Fashion - Ciro Paone's Kiton legacy". isuit.it. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  35. ↑ Redazione (27 June 2022). "Kiton annuncia la nuova collaborazione con Beatrice Venezi". Montenapo Daily (in Italian). Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  36. ↑ Naef, Isabella (27 July 2023). "Kiton veste il Tottenham Hotspur F.C. per le occasioni formali". FashionUnited (in Italian). Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  37. ↑ "Knt veste il Tottenham". FashionNetwork.com (in Italian). Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  38. ↑ "Kiton opens flagship store in Seoul". FashionNetwork.com. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  39. ↑ ArtifexOfficial (19 June 2021). "The Definitive Guide to Italian Tailoring Schools". Mysite. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  40. ↑ D'Uonno, Maria (2017). "A Handbook for Tailoring Craftsmanship Industries. Communicate the Intangible Values of Traditional Methods through Images". Proceedings. 1 (9): 912. doi:10.3390/proceedings1090912. ISSN 2504-3900.
  41. ↑ Studio, Fairchild (16 June 2023). "Never Stopping". WWD. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  42. ↑ Menkes, Suzy (21 April 2014). "Naples, a Haven of Hand Work". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  43. ↑ Welch, Adam (26 February 2020). "Why Italian Tailoring Brand Kiton Has The Ultimate Bragging Rights". Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  44. ↑ "Italian tailoring schools | Financial Times". www.ft.com. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  45. ↑ "Kiton factory in Arzano | Gianni Cipriano Photography | Archive". archive.giannicipriano.com. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  46. ↑ "Kiton, un'eccellenza della couture italiana maschile". forbes.it. 28 February 2019. Archived from the original on 8 December 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  47. ↑ Toscanini, Industrie (22 April 2022). "Made in Italy tradition and innovation for the Kiton brand". Toscanini. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  48. ↑ "By the sea: Antonio de Matteis, CEO of Kiton". www.boatinternational.com. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  49. ↑ Naef, Isabella (23 February 2023). "Pitti Immagine: Antonio De Matteis (Kiton) è il nuovo presidente". FashionUnited (in Italian). Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  50. ↑ "AL POSTO DI CLAUDIO MARENZI: Antonio De Matteis (Kiton) è il nuovo presidente di Pitti Immagine". www.fashionmagazine.it (in Italian). Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  51. ↑ Lockwood, Lisa (27 October 2015). "Kiton Seeks to Build Women's Collection". WWD. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  52. ↑ "Crescono la donna e le borse: Kiton: i ricavi annuali salgono a 160 milioni". www.fashionmagazine.it (in Italian). Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  53. ↑ "Running Two Companies With Style: Antonio Paone". The European Business Review. 23 October 2022. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
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