Cavalli, Roberto

Roberto Cavalli (b. 1940) is firstly a textile artist who uses his fabrics as canvasses for his fashions. Roberto Cavalli was born in Florence, Italy into a family with strong artistic traditions. His mother was a tailor and his grandfather a Florentine impressionist painter, whose works reside in the Uffizi Museum.

Roberto began his career inventing a process for printing leather. He also became known for his leather and fabric patchwork clothes that created a scandal in his first collection, presented in 1972 at the Palazzo Pitti in Florence. His patchwork on denim fashions were snubbed by straight-laced Florentines but loved by the young hip crowd, including the influential Brigitte Bardot. Success came slowly over the years to Roberto Cavalli but in the 1990s he enjoyed a period of great success with his innovative, animal print clothing, followed in 2000 by his new label Just Cavalli. In 2015, Roberto Cavalli stepped down from his leadership role, naming Peter Dundas and Paul Surridge Creative Directors. In 2020, Fausto Puglisi became Creative Director.

Written by kickshawproductions

from a 1973 denim patchwork dress

Courtesy of kickshawproductions

from a 1980s suede coat

Courtesy of SweetMelissasVintage

from a mid 2000s dress

Courtesy of pinky-a-gogo