Roberto Cavalli

Roberto Cavalli S.p.A. is an Italian luxury fashion company founded by the designer Roberto Cavalli in Osmannoro, Florence, during the 1970s. Known for animal prints on leather and textiles, the label manufactures and markets haute couture, ready-to-wear, and accessories, including handbags, eye wear, watches, shoes, perfumes and jewelry. The company is also involved in interior design projects for high-end buildings and hotels. In 2015, the Italian investment fund Clessidra SGR acquired a 90 percent stake in Roberto Cavalli to relaunch the company. Gian Giacomo Ferraris is the CEO of the company and Fausto Puglisi the creative director. History Founding Roberto Cavalli studied at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze (Academy of Fine Arts of Florence). His grandfather was a painter of the Macchiaioli group. Starting in the 1960s from his silk printing shop, Roberto began to apply a new painterly technique to fully fashioned garments, which later resulted in garment dyeing techniques. He further expanded his material experimentation in the 1970s, predominantly focusing on leather.