Stone Island's Iconic Technical Pieces: Ice Jacket, Raso Gommato, Nylon Metal...
At Stone Island, some garments have become more than jackets: cult objects, sought after and collected. The colour-changing Ice Jacket, satin-sheen rubberised Raso Gommato, Nylon Metal with its metallic sheen… Here is our guide to the brand's iconic technical pieces: how to recognise them, why they have cult status, and which ones to target pre-owned.
Note: this article covers the iconic models. To understand the material science that makes them possible (garment dyeing, coatings, treatments), see our guide to Stone Island fabrics and technical innovations.
The Ice Jacket: the jacket that changes colour
The brand's most spectacular piece. Its thermosensitive fabric reacts to temperature: the colour lightens or transforms as the mercury drops. Launched in the 1980s under Massimo Osti and regularly reissued since, the Ice Jacket embodies Stone Island's experimental DNA. Pre-owned, it is one of the most sought-after pieces — check that the thermosensitive effect still works evenly, as this is the first criterion for its value.
Raso Gommato: armoured elegance
A cotton satin (raso) coated with polyurethane on the reverse (gommato): a discreet sheen for the city, windproof and water-repellent protection on the technical side. It is THE classic Stone Island jacket par excellence — often offered as a trench coat, blouson or parka — and an excellent way into the brand on the pre-owned market: made in volume, so easy to find, yet always desirable.
Nylon Metal: the signature sheen
A nylon woven with weft and warp yarns of different colours, giving it that instantly recognisable iridescent metallic sheen. Available as lightweight jackets, windbreakers and down jackets, Nylon Metal is probably the most identifiable Stone Island piece from ten metres away. The 'Flowing Camo' versions and dark colourways (black, navy) are the most sought after.
Membrana 3L TC: pure technicality
A three-layer membrane, heat-sealed seams, an almost futuristic translucent look: the Membrana is the piece for technical enthusiasts. Waterproof and breathable, it represents the brand's most performance-driven side. When buying pre-owned, check the condition of the heat-sealed seams (they can peel away over time) — a point we check systematically.
Crinkle Reps: the permanent crinkle
A nylon with a permanently crinkled look, lightweight and water-repellent, that has become one of the brand's all-time best-sellers — especially in down jackets. Its unique texture and excellent warmth-to-weight ratio make it a cornerstone of the modern Stone Island wardrobe. It is the most common technical piece on the pre-owned market: favour pieces with an immaculate badge and zips.
Shadow Project: the avant-garde laboratory
A line developed with the designer Errolson Hugh (Acronym): technical cuts, reworked pockets, a radical urban aesthetic. Produced in limited quantities, Shadow Project is the collectors' line — as are rare collaborations such as Stone Island x Supreme. These pieces regularly gain value once their seasons have sold out: if you come across one in good condition at a reasonable price, don't think about it for too long.
How do you authenticate these pieces?
The more iconic a piece, the more it gets copied. The essential checks: the compass badge (embroidery, fastening buttons), whether the art-number label matches the stated fabric, and the quality of the finishing. Every Stone Island piece sold at NB08 goes through our authentication process at our boutique in Ajaccio, Corsica.
Which technical piece should you buy pre-owned?
First purchase: a Raso Gommato or a Crinkle Reps — iconic, easy to find, versatile. Seasoned enthusiast: a Nylon Metal for the visual signature, or a Membrana for the technical edge. Collector: the Ice Jacket and Shadow Project, the two lines whose value holds up best over time. The full story of this garment-as-object culture can be read in our article on the history of Stone Island and Massimo Osti.
Find our available technical pieces — new and authenticated pre-owned, with the original retail price shown for comparison — in our Stone Island jackets, Stone Island down jackets and full Stone Island collections.
