A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO THE STONE ISLAND BADGE
THE STONE ISLAND BADGE EXPLAINED
The Stone Island badge is a recognisable symbol of the brand's dedication to pushing the boundaries of fashion and material technology. From several iterations over nearly half a decade, the Stone Island badge has become a coveted symbol of quality and innovation. Learn more about the history and meaning behind this iconic badge, their different variations, how to spot a fake Stone Island badge and where you can find authentic replacements.
WHERE IS THE STONE ISLAND BADGE LOCATED?
The Stone Island badge is normally affixed to the left arm. However, in the earlier years, many pieces would have the badge affixed to the front of the item. There is even a famous jacket known as the 'right hand badge' jacket released all the way back in 1983.
Massimo Osti's Compass, Nautical Beginnings of the Stone Island Badge
THE HISTORY OF THE STONE ISLAND BADGE
Iconic designer, Massimo Osti, founded Stone island in 1982, complimenting his principal brand C.P. Company. Osti set a precedent for a different approach to menswear clothing design, formed upon textiles and materials innovation and innovation upon pre-existing garments.
The most recognisable part of the brand is undeniably the Stone Island badge made from boiled wool and accented with an embroidered yellow and green compass. This is normally affixed to the left arm with buttons making it removable.
The original Stone Island Badge came from nautical beginnings, inspired by the ‘wind rose’ compass from Osti’s own 1960s wooden sailboat. This encapsulated the sense of exploration that Osti wanted people to feel when they wore the functional garments. On our website you can find an editorial that goes into the story of the individual badges released over the years
Source: STONE ISLAND: STORIA, 2020
THE EVOLUTION OF THE STONE ISLAND BADGE DESIGN
Since its introduction in the 1982, the Stone Island badge has undergone design changes as well as alternate versions - some of which are pictured above. In the early years, the badge featured a green and yellow compass motif with the brand's name in capital letters with a green edge. This is often referred to as the 'Green Edge Badge' and was used until autumn winter 1999. Often Stone Island with a green edge badge are extremely sought after and symbolises the rarity of an item.
Below we feature some of the most iconic Stone Island Badges released over the years and the garments they belong to. Despite the changes, the compass motif remains a central part of the badge and the brand's identity.
Source: Archivio85
HOW TO SPOT A FAKE STONE ISLAND BADGE
With the popularity of Stone Island, there are unfortunately many counterfeit badges in circulation and badges can easily be replaced with counterfeits, meaning the badge is not always the best indication of if the item itself is real. To spot a fake badge, start by looking at the colour of the logo. Authentic badges will have pale, rather than vibrant, greens and yellows which are saturated. Furthermore, as represented in the image below, authentic badges tend to include a 'drop stitch' which will be a green or yellow stitching around the compass. Good replicas may also have this as well, but if it doesn't, the badge is most likely fake. Truss is in the process of creating a video guide for Stone Island. Make sure to follow us on instagram to get deep insights into authentication for the badges and peices.
WHERE TO FIND AUTHENTIC STONE ISLAND BADGES
To ensure you're getting an authentic Stone Island badge, it's important to purchase from a reputable source. Be wary of purchasing from third-party sellers or online marketplaces, as counterfeit badges are often sold through these channels under the guise of real. If someone is selling a badge for £15 on Depop, be wary. Please see our guide on authenticating Stone Island.
Download the Truss app here to discover the most coveted authentic Stone Island available anywhere online.