A Closer Look at the Stone Island NOC-1
Posted on February 7, 2008
Filed Under Rare and Collectable, Jackets and Shoulderpieces, Stone Island
Post updated. I was overjoyed when receiving my NOC-1 only to find that the jacket was from the same season, but not the original jacket issued with the piece. So this post is now bitter sweet, since I now own only 1/2 of my one of my favorite jackets. But my search for a complete and original NOC-1 will continue. Click below to read more.
Above: Updated: This is not the original jacket the NOC-1 hood came on, thanks to IDP for spotting that for me.
For most, I think the issue with the NOC-1 is that it was thought of as an interesting hood on a plain jacket. Personally, this has always been what made the NOC-1 so appealing to me. I think that this has always been the strength of the SI design sensibility. Straddling the fine line between looking functional and looking like a costume.
Left: NOC-1 Embossed on hood. Right: Stone Island is embossed on both sides of the hood.
Of course no one collects the NOC-1 for the jacket. The hood of course its the star feature of this piece. And makes it without a doubt one of the most recognizable Stone Island pieces ever produced.
Left: Original gas mask shape. Right: Sculpt for the the NOC-1 mold.
How It’s Made
While injection molding might seem boring, its actually quite an interesting art form in itself. From the original shape of the gas mask a sculpt for the mold was created.
Above: Core and cavity parts of the NOC-1 mold.
From the original sculpt the steel molds are made. In the case of the NOC-1, a 3 part mold was created, consisting of a cavity mold and left and right core molds. The cavity is surrounded by left and right core parts and between the mold parts is about a 1/8″ of empty space.
Above: Injection molding machine used to make the NOC-1.
Once the mold is closed, pellets of neoprene are heated to become molten and injected into the mold at high pressure to fill in the empty gaps between the core and cavity mold parts. Once the neoprene cools the core parts separate leaving the hood on the cavity mold and it is peeled off.
Above: The final product. Photo of the NOC-1 hood from Stardust.
Check out the full images below:
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5 Responses to “A Closer Look at the Stone Island NOC-1”
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The NOC 1 was released in SS 1999 making it only 9 years old. Also they only ever did 1 style of the jacket which was a sort of jersey cotton with a silver foil lining. The raso jacket the rubber hood has been attached to here is from the same season (you can tell that from the laser etched buttons they used for that season and also the winter of 1999)but should not have that hood attached, somebody has added popstuds around the collar. I remember it being on ebay a few times. The actual art no for the NOC 1 is
30156429/AS
Thanks J bit late in this side of the pond so my math not as sharp as it should be.
Total distraction!!!!
oh man !!!!!
A very interesting piece, thanks for the info Gene.