In Glenn Kitson’s new short film, ‘A Sorpres, viewers are taken inside a Neapolitan collector’s warehouse. Inside, we see endless rows of vintage Stone Island pieces, carefully preserved in plastic. It’s a serious business: the venue is the result of “15 years of archiving”, and is run by a group of vendors from Naples’ nearby Resina market.

One of them, named Nello, is shown delicately pulling a piece from its hanger, cradling it with reverence as if it were a holy, centuries-old relic. He is then seen trying on a rare, workwear-inspired jacket from the archive. “The birth of my daughter, an important day for me,” he says. The day he stumbled on this piece, however, “felt exactly the same.”

Nello then picks another Stone Island piece – a slick forest green vinyl jacket, with a pop of orange on the colour – and poses for the camera. “Look how I good I look!” He then tries another: this time a raincoat, in faded ochre camo. He notes that it is ideal for hiking up nearby Mount Vesuvius when it’s snowing. “My God,” he marvels, shaking his head and showing off his sleeves. “It’s beautiful.”

‘A Sorpres is a celebration not only of Stone Island, but of Naples itself. The five-minute short is a frenetic spin through the city: we see flickers of bustling markets, weather-beaten statues, and a vivid stream of street murals (Jesus Christ features prominently, as does local messiah Diego Maradona). But the film’s main focus is Resina, a sprawling vintage market just south of the city, known for its “passionate” vendors and abundance of low-cost, high-quality clothing.

“It makes sense, the love for Stone Island in Naples, as it’s a working-class city... It’s a tough city”

The market was born during World War Two, back when American troops were occupying southern Italy. The surplus stock in their local military supply houses soon became highly coveted by Neapolitan locals, who became obsessed with the soldiers’ clothes. The appeal lay in the quality – these were “indestructible” pieces made from durable fabrics, built to weather the most extreme conditions.

As the years went on, Stone Island – particularly pieces from the early 80s and 90s, with their clear visual nods to workwear and the military – began to appear more and more in Resina’s vintage pezze (piles). Collectors, thrilled at the prospect of stumbling across the brand’s beloved golden badge in the bales, quickly began to frequent the market, skipping school or work after hearing tip-offs about big shipments. “It blew our minds because in Naples you couldn’t find Stone Island,” says Alessio Malinconico, a local chef at Salumeria Malinconico. “There was no official store.”

Kitson’s film is released just as Naples opens its first-ever Stone Island store on Palazzo Fusco, which is a major moment – and not just for the city’s seasoned collectors. The brand is already ubiquitous in Naples, with the signature logo speeding past on the arms of countless moped drivers. “It makes sense, the love for Stone Island in Naples, as it’s a working-class city, has its own street culture and street style,” says Kitson. “It’s a tough city, and that’s the kind of stuff people want to wear there.”

The Bolton-born filmmaker – a long-time lover of the brand, who started out selling vintage pieces on old football messageboards – said that working with them on the project was a “no-brainer.” This is mainly because of its enduring cult, or outsider, status. “I think Stone Island transcends a lot of different cultures and markets,” he adds. “It sits outside of fashion and does its own thing.” The film, he hopes, is a worthy celebration of Naples, as well as the infectious passion of its locals. 

Watch ‘A Sorpres in full above, and view some exclusive BTS imagery in the gallery above