Legendary fashion designer Roberto Cavalli has died, aged 83.
Launching his namesake label in 1970, the Florence-born designer would go on to become one of the most recognised names in Italian luxury.
Known for his glitzy evening wear, explosive animal prints and distressed denim, Cavalli’s designs have been a favourite of the celebrity elite, with countless names turning to his energetic designs for the red carpet.
Born into a family of artists, Cavalli would open his first store, called Limbo, in Saint Tropez in 1972. First known for his work with leather, establishing an innovative printing process for the fabric in his brand’s earliest years, he would quickly expand the brand. He would launch his highly successful subsidiary line, Just Cavalli, in 1998. Additionally, he would become one of the first luxury designers to collaborate with high street retailer H&M in 2007 and would license his name in 2011 to extend Roberto Cavalli into the worlds of furniture and homewear.
In 2015, the Italian investment fund Clessidra acquired a majority stake in the Cavalli brand, with Peter Dundas succeeding the designer as creative director that year, followed by Paul Surridge, who joined the brand in 2019. That same year DAMAC Properties’s Hussain Sajwani acquired the Cavalli brand. The brand is currently designed by Fausto Puglisi.
Our thoughts are with Cavalli’s friends, family and loved ones.
Portrait by Giovanni Giannoni.