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Roberto Cavalli
“The genius of Roberto Cavalli is that he lives exactly as he should,” wrote Laura Brown in Harper’s Bazaar. “He is not a subtle man, and he doesn’t make subtle clothes. Cavalli lives a leopard-print life.” Indeed, his sexy, feminine clothes in bright colors and bold patterns capture the flamboyant spirit of Italian fashion.
Born in a suburb of Florence, Cavalli (1940– ) made his first impression on the fashion industry in the late 1960s, when he developed a new technique for printing on leather. The process was adopted by prestigious fashion houses such as Hermès and Pierre Cardin, and its success gave Cavalli the confidence to start his own ready-to-wear line in 1970. He specialized in patchwork garments made from denim and printed leather—techniques and materials that he continues to use. In 1977 he met his wife, Eva—a former Miss Universe contestant—who also acts as Cavalli’s muse, design partner, and business associate.
Although Cavalli’s success faltered in the 1980s, he triumphed in the following decade. In 1993 he began using denim mixed with Lycra—an innovation that had women clambering for his comfortable jeans that fit like a second skin. Now having been in business for over forty years, Cavalli’s creative output is staggering. In addition to his women’s ready-to-wear line, he designs men’s and children’s clothing, as well as a secondary line, Just Cavalli. He has also tried his hand at interior design. “What is too much?” ponders Cavalli. “There is no such thing!” In 2015, Norwegian designer Peter Dundas was appointed as creative director of Roberto Cavalli.
