One Family Story
One Family Story
1972
Stefano Ricci S.p.A. was founded by Florence designer Stefano Ricci and his wife Claudia. From the outset, they embraced a philosophy of “100% Made in Italy.” Inspired by his passion for neckties, Ricci began creating his first designs in his early twenties.
1984
Stefano Ricci redefined the role of the necktie, transforming it from a simple accessory to the protagonist of the men’s wardrobe. From his debut at Pitti Uomo, his creations were met with acclaim by leading international department stores, including Neiman Marcus and Harrods. Responding to requests from leading groups, he went on to present his first shirt collection in the 1970s and introduced the brand’s range of fine leather goods to the luxury market.
1986
Together with a select group of colleagues, Stefano Ricci established a consortium to strengthen the presence of Florence and the Pitti Uomo trade fair, positioning them as essential benchmarks for men’s fashion on an international scale. The chosen name, Classico Italia, soon became synonymous with products made exclusively in Italy. Ricci was elected president for three terms, during which he created a dedicated space for high-end collections and events.
1990
Stefano Ricci gradually expanded its men’s collection to include jackets, suits, knitwear, sportswear and footwear. The brand also introduced an exclusive line of premium leather goods and, honouring Florence’s long-standing jewelry tradition, created a collection of cufflinks and refined belt buckles crafted in gold, platinum, diamonds, sapphire and other precious gemstones.
1993
After consolidating the company’s presence in the United States with a showroom in New York, Stefano Ricci opened his first directly operated store, marking the beginning of the brand’s global expansion. He chose Shanghai, guided by a forward-looking vision of China’s future that was well ahead of its time. This pioneering step would, in the years to come, deliver exceptional results.
1997
To mark the brand’s 25th anniversary, Stefano Ricci launched its first fragrance. After years of research, the men’s perfume Classic was unveiled at Pitti Uomo with an exclusive evening event for 300 guests at the Terme Tettuccio spas in Montecatini.
2005
The brand emblem was created: the Royal Eagle, a tribute to an icon revered in many cultures and a symbol closely aligned with the Maison’s core values of Honour, Power and Pride.
2009
Having established a worldwide reputation for exclusive design and unrivalled quality, Stefano Ricci expanded his creativity to encompass the concept of the luxury lifestyle. This led to the launch of SR Home, featuring porcelain dinner services, hand-cut crystal, silverware crafted using traditional techniques and luxury household and accessories.
2010
Loyal to its values of traditional craftsmanship and local heritage, the company acquired the Antico Setificio Fiorentino, a historic silk mill that has produced fabrics for the world’s most prestigious families since 1786. To this day, it continues to operate using the original handlooms.
In partnership with the three-Michelin-starred Enoteca Pinchiorri, Stefano Ricci launched the Luxury Wine Collection, expanding its lifestyle offering with an exclusive line of Italian wines presented in uniquely designed bottles.
2011
Stefano Ricci was invited to open Moscow Fashion Week with a show staged before 2,500 guests. That same year, the company consolidated its production processes by inaugurating a new facility in Fiesole, nestled in the hills outside Florence. The original headquarters was transformed into a bespoke tailoring atelier, where young artisans continue to be trained under the guidance of master craftsmen, ensuring the transmission of artisanal knowledge and expertise.
2012
Stefano Ricci launched the Luxury Yacht Division, created to meet the needs of a discerning clientele with a passion for Mega-Yachts.
In the same year, the brand celebrated its 40th anniversary with a landmark fashion show at the Uffizi Gallery, the first ever to be staged in the renowned museum. That same year, the company donated a new lighting system for the Loggia dei Lanzi, adjacent to the Uffizi Gallery, to the city of Florence.
2013
As part of its commitment to preserving and promoting local cultural heritage, the company funded the restoration of priceless volumes on the medieval Florentine Arts, housed in the State Archives of Florence. It also ensures the completion of the digitisation plan for these works.
2014
Stefano Ricci was appointed as Cavaliere del Lavoro, the highest honour in Italy for services to business. That same year, he was elected President of the Centro di Firenze per la Moda Italiana, the parent organisation of Pitti Immagine. Under his leadership, he launched Firenze Hometown of Fashion and donated a new lighting system for the Ponte Vecchio to the city, marked by a water show on the Arno River and a performance by Andrea Bocelli before 25,000 people.
2016
Stefano Ricci presented its new campaign to the international press at the Vittoriale degli Italiani, in tribute to Gabriele D’Annunzio, Arbiter of Elegance. Originally conceived as Geometries of Nature, the Lookbook evolved into A Tribute to Art – featuring references to the Uffizi, Magritte, Vettriano and Gruau. It also celebrated Italian beauty, highlighting the Castle of Sammezzano, the Antico Setificio Fiorentino, the Stibbert Museum, the city of Matera, the Mugello Circuit, the Castle of Italo Balbo, and the Island of Montecristo.
The SR JUNIOR Collection was unveiled with an exclusive event entitled Nel nome del Figlio (In the Name of the Son), staged at the Opera del Duomo Museum, and was later given a dedicated space at Harrods.
2017
Stefano Ricci celebrated its 45th anniversary with a fashion show at the Sala Bianca in Palazzo Pitti. The prestigious venue, closed to fashion events since 1982, was reopened for this occasion.
In the same year, Stefano Ricci expanded the SR HOME collection with the launch of its Furniture line, unveiled at the Salone del Mobile in Milan.
2018
The company signed an agreement with Arturo Fuente to create the Opus X – Stefano Ricci, a limited-edition line of cigars that marked another milestone in the brand’s leadership in the ultra-luxury lifestyle sector.
2020
Stefano Ricci launched the Octagon watch collection, introducing three models: Chronograph, Annual Calendar and Perpetual Calendar.
2022
To celebrate its 50th anniversary, Stefano Ricci staged a spectacular show at the Temple of Hatshepsut in Luxor – the first international fashion show ever held in Egypt. The event was a triumph of Italian quality and style, attended by 400 international guests featuring 45 models, with Maestro Andrea Bocelli adding a remarkable performance.
Stefano Ricci launched the Firenze fragrance, created exactly 25 years after the debut of the first SR Classic Eau de Parfum. Conceived as a hymn to Florence, its bottle design recalls the stylistic features of Brunelleschi’s dome. The fragrance opens with bright citrus notes, typical of the city’s historic orangeries, blended with luxurious oud and vetiver.
2023
Stefano Ricci launched the Explorer Project. After celebrating the Great Beauty of Italy, the cultural journey continued in the spirit of the explorer, in search of the new Wonders of the World. The project presents the brand’s menswear collections in breathtaking locations, linking fashion with the natural and cultural wonders of the world. The campaign’s message is: “Explore the world to explore ourselves.”
2025
Stefano Ricci launched Fashional Geographic, the brand’s first documentary series, on Amazon Prime Video, marking another step forward in developing content around exploration and sustainability.
Stefano Ricci S.p.A became the main sponsor of a project to restore the skyline of Florence by removing the crane that had dominated the city’s profile for decades. The initiative restored the original view of the prestigious exhibition complex and the proper perspective of the Torre di Arnolfo and Brunelleschi’s Dome.
Today
Stefano Ricci has grown from a small family-run workshop into an international luxury group with 900 employees worldwide, including an all-Italian production and retail workforce. Its headquarters, located in the hills of Fiesole, cover more than 9,000 square metres.
Stefano Ricci, founder, chairman and designer, works alongside his wife Claudia and his sons Niccolò (CEO) and Filippo (Creative Director). The brand has earned a global reputation as a model family business. The Ricci family remains dedicated to bringing Italian fashion and its unmistakable style to the world, with 80 monobrand boutiques.
