THE HISTORY OF CASTELLI
1876 - VITTORE GIANNI
Castelli traces its roots back to a fine tailor (Vittore Gianni) in the heart of Milan, founded in 1876. Through the years, Vittore Gianni clothed AC Milan, Juventus, and the Milan Ballet.
1910 - ALFREDO BINDA
The first cycling clothing was made in the 1910s for the world champion and five-time Giro champion Alfredo Binda.
1935 - ARMANDO CASTELLI
The business changed course in 1935 when a young Armando Castelli joined Gianni’s staff and in 1939 purchased the company.
1945 - HIGH‑PROFILE CLIENTS
Castelli maintained Vittore Gianni’s high‑profile clients, which by the late 1940s included the cycling heroes Gino Bartali and Fausto Coppi.
1948 - MAURIZIO CASTELLI
Armando’s son, Maurizio was born. He grew up following the races of Fausto Coppi who always wore Vittore Gianni clothing, including the first silk skin suits designed for Fausto’s time trials.
1953 - THE PROFESSIONALS
And it didn’t stop there, Louison Bobet, Raphael Gimignani, Rik Van Looy and Jacques Anquetil wore the Vittore Gianni apparel, including up to 12 pro teams were clothed by Vittore Gianni in these years.




1974 - THE SCORPION
An early version of the Castelli scorpion logo fashioned by Maurizio for his newly formed brand.
1977 - FIRST LYCRA SHORTS
Castelli innovates again when introducing the first aerodynamic Lycra® shorts used in racing and sold to the public.
1979 - REVOLUTION
Castelli was crowned with the prestigious Corriere dello Sport Discobolo award. “Castelli has in a truly futuristic way, revolutionize clothing for cyclists”.
1981 - FIRST COLORED SHORTS
At the 1981 Giro, Maurizio outfitted a handful of riders with the first colored Lycra® shorts – at a time when only black shorts were allowed.
1983 - FIRST SUBLIMATION PRINT AND WINDPROOF JERSEY
Castelli pioneered the sublimation dye process with the first sublimation printing of jerseys which allowed graphics such sponsor’s names to be printed directly on fabric.
Bernard Hinault wore the first windproof jersey to win the Fleche Wallonne classic.
1984 - FIRST THERMAL CLOTHING
Francesco Moser wearing the first functional thermal clothing at Paris-Roubaix.




1989 - OFFICIAL SUPPLIER
In the late 80’s and early 90’s Castelli supplied the leader jerseys at the Giro d’italia and Tour de France as well as a dozen of pro teams.
1995 - A SAD MOMENT
Maurizio’s life was cut short at age 47 when he died of a heart attack riding up the Cipressa hill, the legendary ascent on the Milan-San Remo course.
1996 - FIRST WOMAN COLLECTION
Maurizio’s vision to create the most innovative clothing continued being the driving force of the company. In 1996, the first fully aerodynamic skinsuit was introduced for the Atlanta Olympics.
Castelli equipped the Italian national cycling team, and Paola Pezzo when she won the olympic gold medal in mountain biking. The same year, Castelli introduced the first womens cycling collecton.
1998 - WICKING FABRIC TREATMENT AND Y-CUT PAD
The Castelli equipped, Team Once with Abraham Olano wore the first jersey with wicking fabric treatment (Prosecco).
The same year, Castelli innovates the first modern anatomic seatpad, the Y-cut seatpad.




2007 - REVOLUTIONIZING RACE CLOTHING
革命はこの年に起こります。世界の初のエアロ性能を持ったジャージとビブショーツを開発。重さはプロサイクリングレースで使用されていた当時の世界最軽量で、Team Saunier Duvalに供給していました。
Giroレッグバンドもこの年に登場し、それまでの主流だった硬く、細くて締め付けの強すぎるレッググリッパーの存在は薄れていったのです。カステリはこの4年間で、サイクルショーツの根底を完全に覆す変化をもたらします。
2008 - RADIATION
冬にも走る競技志向のライダーのために、断熱素材を装備したウェアを開発。冬場の装いに大きな変化をもたらしました。(Radiation)
2009 - REINVENTING THE BIBSHORT
Body Paintの誕生。ほとんど縫い目のない一枚の素材で完成したビブショーツです。
2010 - COLD AND WET
カステリは、ナノテクノロジーを初めてサイクリング界に持ち込み、現在も多くの製品で使用されているナノフレックスを開発。メンブレン膜を張らずに高い撥水性と通気性を備える魔法のような素材を完成させました。
Cervelo - TestTeamとあらゆる天候状態に対応するレースジャケット、GABBA WS JERSEYを開発。エアロ性能を持つレインジャケットが誕生したのです。
2011 - SANREMO SPEED SUIT
Johan Van Summerenが世界初のロードレース用のスキンスーツを着用し、パリ〜ルーベを制覇。その名は現在も存在するSANREMO SPEED SUIT。
2012 - BODY PAINT 3.0 SPEED SUIT
Ryder Hesjedalがジロ・デ・イタリアの総合タイトルを、僅か16秒差で勝つことができたのは、カステリのエアロ性能を持ったタイムトライアル用スーツである、BODY PAINT 3.0の恩恵があったからこそだと言われています。
2013 - PRODUCT PHILOSOPHY
最後にMaurizio Castelliの言葉で締め括ります。
「私がもしレースに出たことのない人間だったら、今までのような革新的なウェアを開発することは絶対にできなかったはずだ。それこそが、本当の意味でサイクリングを理解する唯一の方法なのだから。」



