Roberto Cavalli

By Yaksha Lodha

Born :November 15, 1940 in Florence, Italyto an artistic family; his grandfather, Giuseppe Rossi, was a prolific member of the Macchialol Movement, whose work is exhibited in the Uffizi gallery. Cavalli decided to enroll at the local Art Institute, concentrating in textile print. While still a student, he made a series of flower prints on knit that caught the attention of major Italian hosiery factories.

In the early 1970s, he invented and patented a revolutionary printing procedure on leather, and started creating patchworks of different materials.

At the age of thirty, he presented his first namesake collection at the Salon for Prêt-à-Porter in Paris.

In 1980 Roberto Cavalli married Eva Duringer, who has been his lifelong companion and business partner.

In Milan in 1994 Cavalli presented the first sand-blasted jeans.

By December of the same year, he had opened boutiques in Saint Barth, in the French Caribbean; and then in Venice and Saint-Tropez.

Just Cavalli, launched in 1998In 2002 Cavalli opened his first café-store in

Florence, revamping it with his signature animal prints.

Design Philosphy

Roberto Cavalli has a highly idiosyncratic style. Focused on details as well as on the whole image, he likes to play with excesses, opposing and balancing them in a new harmony. Roberto Cavalli creates his vibrant patterns by using the most advanced technologies, but he gets his inspiration from nature as his predilection for animal prints and jungle and flower motifs testifies.

Criticisim

Cavalli was sharply criticized in 2004 by the Hindu community for marketing a line of feminine underwear (designed forHarrods) which featured the images of South-Asian goddesses. The line was eventually withdrawn and formal apologies were made.

Companies

Roberto Cavalli (RC)Just CavalliJust Cavalli caféJust Cavalli underwear and swimwearRoberto Cavalli underwearRoberto Cavalli accessoriRoberto Cavalli Angels and DevilsRoberto Cavalli EyewearRoberto Cavalli TimewearRoberto Cavalli PerfumeRoberto Cavalli Vodka

Just Cavalli Cafe

Just Cavalli Underwear & Swimwear

Roberto Cavalli Classic

Class Roberto Cavalli

Roberto Cavalli Accessori

Roberto Cavalli Shoes

Roberto Cavalli Eyewear

Roberto Cavalli Timewear

Roberto Cavalli Perfume

Roberto Cavalli Vodka

Store Locations

• USA• UAE• UK• India• Morocco• Japan• France• Arabia• Africa• Brazil