Left Hand was established in 1993 by Massimo Osti, the founding father of C.P. Company, Stone Island and a number of others. 

Many view Left Hand as the brand that allowed Osti to fully express himself and everything he’d been working on up until that point. By 1993, Osti had accrued 20 years of design experience and had invented new and innovative materials. 

His ‘garment dyeing’, had become an industry-changing technique that is utilised as a standard to this day, which at the time was both economical and design-forward, and resulted in the tone rich textural basis that many of his brands have become synonymous with. 

Throughout the 80s, Osti built on garment dyeing by fusing it with stone washing and a variety of other product development techniques, introducing Tela Stella, which was reminiscent of military tarpaulin and also Raso Gommato and his pioneering military influences in a fashion setting, provided the basis for modern-day functionalism. 

By 1987, Osti invented a variety of treatment methods that bolstered wool and flax with rubber to create waterproof foundations, and added sought-after levels of distress and feel to the garment’s bodies. In the same year, Osti invented ‘brushed wool’, a way of manipulating wool while keeping it breathable and insulating. Again, like garment dyeing, the practice is now an industry standard.

By the time Osti founded Left Hand, he had the entire design world looking to him for advice and inspiration. Well-known as the first line designed by Osti outside of C.P. Company S.P.A. - Left Hand was launched in 1993 - aptly named by Osti based on the fact that he himself was in fact Left-Handed.

"To those who ask me the reason for this name, my answer is that I am in fact left-handed." - Massimo Osti, 1993

The Birth Of Left Hand

Going back to the origins of the brand, we start twenty years on since Massimo embarked on his journey of clothing design, and it's been a decade since he last ventured into creating a fresh line of fashion. From this equation of time, a yearning for a novel experience emerges – a need for his creativity to find expression in a new context.

For the very first time, Massimo decides to craft a women's fashion collection, a daring move followed by the introduction of a men's line. This marks a significant turning point in his career. To bring this vision to life, he takes a step he has never taken before, establishing a brand independent of C.P. Company S.p.A. As his new production partner, he selects Dismi 92 of Florence, a manufacturing company owned by the Allegri family, known for its unwavering commitment to quality and expertise, particularly in the realm of women's fashion.

Much like his past ventures, Massimo embarks on using newly developed fabrics to boldly inspire entire collections. These fabrics may range from pressed microfibers to thermally bonded PVC, each pushing the boundaries of innovation. Notably, every fabric is exclusively developed for the brand by Massimo and produced by ITS Artea receives its unique logo and an accompanying tag card briefly explaining its technical attributes.

Massimo's ingenuity shines in his ability to extol the virtues of synthetic fibers, defying prevailing trends favoring natural materials. These new fabrics, while artificial, boast recyclability, remarkable durability, minimal maintenance requirements, and exceptional protective qualities. This creative journey, which began in the early 90s, was deeply influenced by a growing awareness of the challenging urban living conditions and the imperative to shield oneself from the hazards of traffic, pollution, and radiation.

Even in the 80s, when nuclear threats and the Cold War loomed large, Massimo was captivated by the idea of clothing for post-atomic survival. This fascination emerged during the nascent ecological movement and the proliferation of apocalyptic Hollywood films and comics, which took root as a literary genre in Bologna during that era.

To adapt clothing to the evolving needs of a humanity undergoing evident transformation, Massimo drew inspiration from military fabrics renowned for their protective capabilities against gases and other harmful substances. This gave birth to a new aesthetic closely tied to the functionality of futuristic clothing – waterproof synthetic materials with raw, unhemmed edges or shiny and thermo-joined, reminiscent of the "replicant style" from Blade Runner.

The initial two seasons witnessed the exclusive use of a fabric called Micro, a non-woven material with chamois-like characteristics, obtained through the thermo-pressing of microfibers. Subsequently, Massimo developed another groundbreaking material formed by bonding cotton and PVC, providing protection against 80% of nuclear radiation. This innovative creation was aptly named "Thermojoint" and became the centerpiece of an entire collection. The imitations of Thermojoint that quickly flooded the market served as a testament to Massimo's unwavering inventive prowess. He possessed a unique ability to elevate humble materials and reshape the preferences and desires of customers.

Aside from revolutionary materials, Left Hand’s design aesthetic utilised more tonal branding, creating a place for the designs to stand out on their own. Design details included angled velcro phone pockets, fold away hoods, unique zip placement and hidden pockets that defined Left Hand’s output.

Starting from the winter of 1997-98, the Left Hand collection comprised 16 "continuative" garments, accompanied by six inner linings that could be seamlessly integrated into any jacket, offering diverse combinations to suit individual tastes.

In 1998, a fresh rendition of Thermojoint emerged, boasting metallic colors. Additionally, two new materials, developed through recent research – cotton bonded to a run-proof jersey and metallic nylon – further expanded Massimo's ever-evolving repertoire.

A RESURGENCE

In 2020 Left Hand was acquired by Left Hand Studio Limited, along with another of Osti's original brands, ST95. Left Hand was re-launched in 2022 with a collection continuing to produce understated and design-focused pieces of outerwear and apparel that subvert outrageous branding and allow the strengths of good design, the use of sustainable fabrics and manufacturing processes to speak for themselves.