June, 7th, 2013

New York | GIAMBATTISTA VALLI

Born and raised in Rome, Giambattista Valli holds a BA from Liceo as well a degree in Art. Influenced by his city, his Roman roots, the movies of Antonioni and inspired by the discovery of French fashion through the watercolors of Yves Saint Laurent and the drawings of Gruau, Giambattista Valli decided to pursue his dream by enrolling in fashion school, the Istituto Europeo del Design of Rome, in 1986.

In 1987 he began a foundation course in illustration at Central St. Martin’s School of Arts in London. Returning to Italy, he worked in the studio of Roberto Capucci. In his role as Capucci’s assistant, he was introduced to the dramatic haute-couture clothes and the bursting colours of the Roman master.

In 1990, after a two year stint with Capucci, the Fendi family called him to oversee, as Senior Designer, the newly born Fendissime Line. There he experimented with prêt-à-porter in the world of the young hip Roman clientele.

Travelling restlessly between collections, he filled his imagination and mind continuously with many influences: India with Mina’s songs, the New York of Halston, Antonio Lopez and Bianca Jagger, Paris with Jeanne Moreau, Marie-Hélène de Rothschild and Jane Birkin, Fellini’s costumes, Gena Rowlands, Louise Bourgeois… He also spent time with the women of the café society who would become an important source of inspiration for the times to come.

In 1995, Giambattista moved to Milan, where he had been appointed Senior Designer for Krizia womenswear by Krizia-Mariuccia Mandelli. Two years later, in 1997, his two great dreams became a reality – moving to Paris, the city he adored since his teenage years, and the opportunity to combine his prêt-à-porter and couture sensibilities – when he met Emanuel Ungaro. He headed the design studio alongside the master until 2001, when the management appointed him Creative Director for the prêt-à-porter, the Ungaro Fever line, the accessories and licenses.

A few years later, Giambattista launched his own collection and in March 2005 held his first solo show in Paris. Giambattista Valli was thus born. After the opening of its headquarters in the historic building where Jean-Baptiste Lulli once lived in Paris, Giambattista Valli opened its first store rue Boissy d’Anglas in the same building in December 2010. The 150 square meter space, is the first ever boutique dedicated entirely to Giambattista Valli ready-to-wear collections, furs and accessories including shoes, bags and jewelry. Nearly six years after the founding of his signature ready-to-wear house, Giambattista Valli showed its first Haute Couture collection in July 2011. The natural extension of Giambattista Valli’s culture, vision, and universe, the collection presents a modern concept of luxury and femininity which speaks to the wishes and lifestyle of his vibrant international clientele.

Giambattista Valli shows four times a year during Paris Fashion Week. He also designs an eponymous line of accessories, has a deal with Italian top fur-maker Ciwifurs for his own fur coats and jackets and designs a line for the oldest sporting jackets manufacturer, Moncler. The brand has more than 245 selling points in 41 countries worldwide. A very international, glamorous, sophisticated crowd of young, beautiful women have endorsed his talent by wearing his clothes. Among them the likes of Penélope Cruz, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jessica Biel, Natalie Portman, Diane Kruger, Halle Berry, Zoe Saldana, Julianne Moore, Brooke Shields and also royals like Her Majesty Rania of Jordan.