
founded by
Mario Bandiera
about
Les Copains is one of the most well known and reliable names in ready-to-wear fashion in Italy and through the world. The brand name was created in the late ‘50s and takes its name from the title of a popular French radio show, “Salut Les Copains”.
This was the start of the career of Mario Bandiera, who was otherwise fated to work in the antique business, like his father. He immediately captured the industry's attention with a beautiful knitwear collection. Knitwear became a style associated with freedom, and was to be at the center of the company's industrial development, which, in the 1960s, was based on what can be defined as Les Copains' historical creation: the mini-pull.
The company achieved one success after another, and was even praised by The New York Times, when in 1973 it praised the company's new women's prêt-à-porter line.
Since its founding, Les Copains has always been considered a symbol of the “Made in Italy” tradition in terms of creativity, industrial technique and quality. The predominate element is knitwear, a symbol of style, glamour, freedom and excellence. Cashmere, above all else, remains Les Copains’ first love even as the brand evolves through the years; contemporary and stylistically consistent through the use of technological innovations and special treatments of the material.
Antonio Marras has been the designer for them since 1996, but prematurely ended his contract in April 2005, due to overextension. The designer for the main Les Copains label, Antonio Berardi, took over upon Marras's sudden exit, only to stay a few years before his contract ended in February 2008. With Albino D'Amato at the helm as of April 2008, the growth of Trend Les Copains seems to have moved to the backburner, as D'Amato turns the house's attention more toward men's and the main Les Copains line.