Roberto Cavalli, the Italian fashion designer known for his glamorous designs and colourful prints, dies in Florence at the age of 83.
“It is with great sadness that today we say our final goodbyes to our founder Roberto Cavalli,” his brand announced in a statement on Instagram Friday, April 12.
“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.”
The cause of his death was not immediately shared.
His extravagant prints, which drew inspiration from the realms of exotic flora and fauna, high hemlines, and even lower waistlines, were hallmarks of his rich aesthetic.
His main residence is a 13-hectare (32-acre) Tuscan estate featureing a vineyard, tanning machine, racehorses, Ferraris and a menagerie of animals including parrots, iguanas, a Persian cat, a monkey and tiger.
Freedom, a superyacht, and a personal helicopter were all part of his estate. The Batman movie served as inspiration for its design.
In 1970, Cavalli debuted his own label under the same name and gained notoriety by patenting a novel method of printing on leather.
