Roberto Cavalli, the Italian fashion designer known for his glamorous designs, colorful prints and many celebrity fans, has died at the age of 83 in Florence.
His rich aesthetic was overtly sexy, featuring ornate prints inspired by the exotic world of flora and fauna, high hemlines, and even low waistlines. His lifestyle was equally lavish, with the main residence a 13-hectare (32-acre) estate with vineyards, tanning machinery, racehorses, a Ferrari, and a menagerie of animals including parrots, iguanas, Persian cats, monkeys, and tigers. It was a mansion in Tuscany.
His fortune also included a personal helicopter and a superyacht called Freedom. Its design was inspired by the movie “Batman”.
Cavalli launched his eponymous label in 1970 and made a name for himself by patenting a new method of printing on leather. He first demonstrated his innovative technique in his debut collection in Paris, which featured a pink leather evening dress. Cavalli soon earned commissions from French brands such as Hermès and Pierre Cardin.
He then transferred the technique to denim. In his Fall/Winter 94 collection he introduced the first ever sandblasted jeans, and the following year he invented stretch jeans in collaboration with Lycra. The form-fitting jeans were an instant success, leading him to launch his own line, Cavalli His Jeans (later renamed Just His Cavalli).
He was loved by celebrities. In the early days, Brigitte Bardot and Sophia Loren frequented his store Limbo in Saint-Tropez. But it was in his hedonistic ’90s that his flashy, flamboyant aesthetic really exploded. Thanks to David and Victoria Beckham, Britney Spears and Jennifer Lopez, a new, aspirational and wealthy demographic has discovered the brand.
Cavalli began expanding her fashion empire, consisting of branded underwear, eyewear, footwear, watches, and perfumes. Housewares, pet clothing, vodka, wine, restaurants and members clubs followed.
Despite its popularity, in 2014 the business began posting annual losses. A year later, the family sold a 90% stake to Italian private equity firm Cressidra, reportedly valuing the business at €390 million. The company filed for bankruptcy protection in March 2019 and was acquired by Dubai-based Vision Investment Company later that year.
In October 2020, Sicilian designer Fausto Paglissi was appointed as creative director. In a statement from the brand announcing Cavalli’s death, Paglissi wrote:
“It has been the greatest honor of my career to work under your legacy and for the brand you founded with such vision and style. Rest in Peace.” Please, you will be missed and as you are loved by many, your name will remain and be a beacon of inspiration to others and especially to me.”
Giorgio Armani has paid tribute to his fellow Italian fashion designer, describing him as a “true artist”.
In a post by X shared by Armani’s account, he said: “I can’t imagine anything further from my fashion vision than Roberto Cavalli, but I’ve always had great respect for him. Roberto is a true artist, wild and… His use of prints is amazing and allows him to transform fantasy into captivating clothing.
“I learned of his passing with great sadness. His Tuscan spirit will be greatly missed.”
Victoria Beckham paid tribute on her Instagram Stories, posting a photo of her holding hands with Cavalli while he raised his hand in a peace sign. She said: “So sorry to hear the sad news of Roberto’s passing. He will forever be an icon.”
Brazilian model Adriana Lima posted a photo of herself and Cavalli on X and wrote: Today we lost a legend. rest in peace. “
American singer and actor Jennifer Hudson wrote on stage: “Roberto Cavalli has always been one of my favorite designers. He is a true artist in every sense of the word!
“He made the world a more beautiful place and will be missed. May he rest in peace!”
Cavalli was born in 1940 in a small village in Tuscany. His grandfather, Giuseppe Rossi, was a prominent artist and member of the Macchiaioli movement. Cavalli later moved to Florence with his mother, who was a seamstress, and his brother after his father was killed by German soldiers. He began experimenting with textiles in 1957 while studying at the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence.
He married his first wife Silvanella Giannoni in 1964 and they had two children. The two divorced in 1974, and in 1980 he married former Miss Universe contestant Eva Durer, whom he met while judging the 1977 Miss Universe pageant. The couple had three children, and Eva became his business partner. The couple worked together until they sold the business. They divorced in 2010.
In 2023, he announced the birth of his sixth child, a son, with his partner, Swedish model and actor Sandra Nilsson.
