Italian fashion maestro Roberto Cavalli has passed away at the age of 83.
Confirming the news on Instagram, the fashion house penned, “A life lived with love. It is with great sadness that today we say our final goodbyes to our founder Roberto Cavalli. From humble beginnings in Florence, Roberto succeeded in becoming a globally recognised name loved and respected by all. Naturally talented and creative, Roberto believed that everyone can discover and nurture the artist within themselves. Roberto Cavalli’s legacy will live on via his creativity, his love of nature and via his family who he cherished.” In the caption of the Instagram post, Fausto Puglisi, creative director at Roberto Cavalli, shared his own tribute to the late fashion industry icon.
View this post on Instagram
Cavalli, renowned for his exuberant prints, debuted his eponymous collection in the 1970s. His initial breakthrough occurred in St. Tropez, where he garnered admiration from luminaries like Brigitte Bardot and Sophia Loren.
Although his flamboyant style resonated in the locale, Cavalli’s fame remained primarily confined to Europe until later years, as reported by The New York Times.
View this post on Instagram
Following the announcement of Cavalli’s passing, tributes flooded in from the fashion community.
Renowned designer Giorgio Armani conveyed his respects through a little bit of a selfish message shared on his fashion house’s social media platform, expressing, “I cannot imagine a vision of fashion more distant from mine than that of Roberto Cavalli, yet I have always had enormous respect for him: Roberto was a true artist, wild and wonderful in his use of prints, capable of transforming fantasy into seductive clothes. I have learnt with great sadness of his passing: his Tuscan verve will be greatly missed.”