Excess is success.
— Roberto Cavalli
If you are of a “certain age,” you may well remember your first encounter with a Roberto Cavalli design; flamboyant wild animal prints and ostentatiously bold colors definitely made a new fashion statement. Both Sophia Loren and Bridget Bardot wore his creations to great effect. Animal prints were his signature and one that would remain constant in his many endeavors.
A prolific entrepreneur and innovator, he made the most of his training at the Academy of Art in Florence, Italy, his birthplace, where he studied fabric printing. At age 30 (1970) he mounted his first fashion show featuring a patented process for printing leather. This success led to commissions from Hermes and Cardin and a decade of accolades for his over-the-top concept in dressing. Then came the minimalist looks from designers such as Jill Sander, Calvin Klein and Rei Kawakubo in the 1980’s.
It would take almost a decade before Roberto Cavalli would make his mark, once again creating something entirely new by adding Lycra to denim. If you love your stretch jeans, you have Cavalli to thank. He invented a process for sand blasting the fabric to give it a lived-in look which was added to his signature wild prints and a new line called Just Cavalli attracted a new generation of enthusiasts.
He launched an eponymous cafe in Florence, Italy, a fragrance line, a night club in Dubai, housewares, Cavalli vodka and redesigned the Playboy Bunny costume. Along the way he dressed contemporary stars like Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera, Shakira and Beyonce (never shy in her dress! See Iris van Herpen article). Lenny Kravitz is a big fan, as well. In 2007 his high-street line for H&M sold out in hours, reaching yet another generation.
By 2019 he was experiencing another slump in his business, but Roberto Cavalli stayed true to his own unique, outrageously fun and hedonistic style. He believed that life should express itself fully — with maximum impact and intensity. By staying true to his Purely Personal style he leaves a forty year Fashion legacy for us all.
