13 Facts About Elio Fiorucci

Elio Fiorucci is credited with designing and popularising stretch jeans, and for transforming the fashion scene.

Elio Fiorucci was born in Milan and was one of six children, two of them boys.

Elio Fiorucci started working in his father's shop when he was 14, becoming a full-time worker there at 17.

Elio Fiorucci's travels included a visit to London, then a hotbed of young fashion, and he was said to have been surprised and influenced by the dynamic retailing approaches found in Carnaby Street and Kensington Market.

Elio Fiorucci stocked London designers such as Ossie Clark, as well as the typical hippie uniform of Afghan coat.

The exotic market-style approach he'd seen in Kensington Market was added to, with Elio Fiorucci using the fashion inspiration he'd gained in his travels to places such as Mexico and Ibiza, as well as being inspired by the London scene.

The distinctive logo he chose for Elio Fiorucci was two less than saintly looking Victorian cherubs in sunglasses.

In 1976, the Elio Fiorucci brand was taken to New York, with a retail store on East 59th Street.

Elio Fiorucci became friendly with Andy Warhol and gave him a free office in the store in order to set up Interview.

Elio Fiorucci offered wall space to artist Keith Haring and gave retail concessions to designers Anna Sui and Betsey Johnson.

The Elio Fiorucci label was sold to the Carrera jeans label, which sold it on in 1990 to the Japanese firm Edwin International.

Elio Fiorucci retained creative control under Edwin, but the relationship was not smooth.

Elio Fiorucci added that his design skills encompassed not just fashion but retail environment and marketing materials, which combined to make the garments more compelling.