Renowned Italian designer Roberto Cavalli, known for blending boho prints with sensuality, has passed away at the age of 83, as confirmed by his brand. “It is with deep regret and a great sadness the Roberto Cavalli Maison participates in the passing of its founder Roberto Cavalli,” wrote the company in a statement.
“From humble beginnings in Florence Mr. Cavalli succeeded in becoming a globally recognised name loved and respected by all,” said the brand
Giuseppe Cavalli, born in Florence in 1940, was inspired by his maternal grandfather, an Italian Impressionist who was killed by Nazi forces when Cavalli was just three years old. His mother began sewing at home to support the family, leading Cavalli to enroll at the Academy of Art in Florence at 17 to study art and architecture. He fell in love with his first wife, Silvanella Giannoni, and started incorporating traditional floral prints into his designs.
After graduating in 1960, Cavalli went from teaching textile printing techniques on a ping-pong table to opening his own factory with the help of a friend. The factory was destroyed in a flood in 1966, shortly before the Summer of Love era, which continued to influence both fashion and Cavalli’s personal life. Cavalli’s big break came in 1970 when he impressed a woman with his printing technique on glove leather. Hermès expressed interest in acquiring the exclusive rights to the technique, and Cavalli saw the opportunity to meet models by designing a collection. This strategy remained a guiding principle throughout his successful career.
However, he gained fame in the 1970s when he applied his printing technique to thinnest glove leather, inspiring Hermès to acquire exclusive rights. Cavalli opened Limbo boutique in Saint-Tropez in 1970, creating “young, crazy, summer fashion” and becoming a client of Brigitte Bardot. He expanded his repertoire by patchworking denim and showed his womenswear in Florence in 1972. After a business slump in the ’80s, Cavalli joined Milan fashion week in 1994, inspired by his wife Eva. In 1993, he elasticized denim for a second-skin fit, becoming a go-to source for Jennifer Lopez and Victoria Beckham. Cavalli was invited to Florence by Roberto Valentino, who invited him to meet in his villa with his dog Lupo and parrots. His success led to him becoming a symbol of glamour and success in the fashion industry.
