Roberto Cavalli

The flamboyant world renowned designer was born into an artistic family in Florence, Italy, in 1940. He attended the local Art Institute where he was particularly interested and concentrated on textile print. As a student he produced a series of flower prints on knit which caught the attention of some major Italian hosiery factories. Cavalli invented and patented a revolutionary printing procedure on leather and began creating patchworks of different materials.

His flamboyant style caught on very quickly and is now synonymous with glamour, rock and animal prints. The designer who himself enjoys a lavish over the top lifestyle translates this to his designs. Glitz, gold, colour, wild animal prints and extreme glamour are his hallmarks. Well loved by the rich and famous his designs appear on red carpets thoughout the world and are worn by the likes of Victoria Beckham, Jennifer Lopez and Catherine Zeta Jones and musicians Shakira and Christina Aguilera.

In 1972 in St Tropez, the exclusive French riviera resort and haunt of the rich and glamourous, he opened his first boutique selling his signature patchworks of different materials. The French film star Brigitte Bardot was one of the first celebrities to wear his designs and the jet setters of the time quickly followed. Feathered evening clothes, rhinestone encrusted jeans and python pants were all the rage. Cavalli lost favour in the 1980s when a more minimalist look began to dominate the catwalks and he has been heavily criticised for his use of animal skins and fur.

Cavalli made a comeback in the early 1990s and launched a Jeans line that was extremely successful. He began showing at the Milan Fashion Week and soon his racy dresses and signature animal prints were a hit with a whole new generation of celebrities. His numerous collections now include Just Cavalli, the Angels and Devils childrenswear range, Roberto Cavalli Casa his houseware collection and an extensive collection of accessories ranging from perfume to vodka!.

Married to Eva Duringer a former Miss Universe runner up, they have two children and live in a hillside villa on the outskirts of Florence, Cavalli also has two children from his first marriage. The couples interests outside fashion include a restauraunt in Milan, a chocolate factory and spending the summer entertaining numerous famous friends on their yacht.

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