The Story of Stone Island Told in the Documentary Directed by Ken-Tonio Yamamoto
The stories of Stone Island employees become a “docu-poem” directed by Ken-Tonio Yamamoto that tells the story of the brand founded by Massimo Osti.
Christened Infinite Colours, the new Stone Island documentary directed by Ken-Tonio Yamamoto tells the story of the brand, starting from the community that works at the headquarters in Ravarino (MO). The film, recently shared on the official Stone Island channel on YouTube, was defined by Yamamoto as a "docu-poem" because it hybridizes the documentary story with poetic visual and narrative elements. “Stone Island is all about infinite colours: those of its garments but also those of the incessant creative process behind them,” says the director and multimedia artist, who has been collaborating with the brand for more than 15 years. The documentary focuses on the production process of Stone Island, emphasizing the decisive contribution of the employees who share their experiences firsthand.
“The title ‘Infinite Colours’ refers to this approach: it is a way of thinking about the possibilities and opportunities that enable these people to take the boldest and most visionary ideas and turn them into reality. In my frequent trips to Ravarino, I would meet these people and listen to their incredible stories. That’s why I had the idea of making a film that would tell the story of Stone Island through their eyes, from the inside,” adds director Yamamoto. The film opens with a series of evocative night shots of the headquarters that, in Yamamoto’s vision, represent “the spirit” of Stone Island. At dawn, the building comes to life as employees, defined by Yamamoto as “the blood of this organism,” gradually arrive.
The camera follows the daily activities of the employees in detail: from the selection of raw materials to the creation of the garments, to the dyeing and washing process, and the management of the archive where their work is preserved for future generations. Added to the narration are still lifes that highlight the colors and materials of the most representative garments in the history of Stone Island, starting from the first to be produced, Tela Stella SS '082, passing through Pure Metal Shell – Silver AW '999-'000 and Pure Metal Shell – Bronze AW '999-'000, up to the Kevlar Jackets of the AW '000-'001 season.
The result is an intimate portrait of a community that thrives and continues to grow by feeding on continuous experimentation, using mistakes to pave the road to success, where the human hand remains an essential component in a largely mechanical production process. Testimonies that weave a story of dedication, destined to add a new piece to the history of fashion.
