Giambattista Valli

Giambattista Valli

An Italian-French fashion designer, Giambattista Valli was born and raised in the beautiful and historic city of Rome. His haute couture and prêt-a-porter collections are presented in the Paris Fashion Week, each year.

Valli graduated from Liceo in bachelor of art degree. Things that persuaded him to enroll in the Instituto Europeo del Design in 1986  include influences and inspirations from his city, Roman roots, Michelangelo Antonioni movies, Yves Saint Laurent, and Gruau drawings. A year after this, he started off with a foundation illustration course at Central Saint Martin’s College of Art and Design in London.

On returning to Italy, he worked in Roberto Capucci’s studio as an assistant and there Valli was introduced to striking haute couture plus the vivid colors of the master of Rome. In 1990, when two years passed working at Capucci, the Fendi luxury brand called Valli to become the senior designer of their Fendissime collection. Following this invitation, he experimented with ready-to-wear clothes in landscape of hip and young Roman customers.

Restlessly travelling between his many collections, Valli continuously filled his mind and imagination with several influences. Different kinds of strong and talented women inspired him on the course of his fashion design career.

In 1995, he relocated to Milan where he was appointed as the Senior Designer of Krizia female wear by Krizia-Mariuccia Mandelli. After two years, his two biggest dreams came true. One was to move to his favorite city Paris and to flaunt his sensibilities when meeting Emanuel Ungaro.

Within a few years, he launched his personal collection and in 2005, he held his debut solo exhibition in Paris. Hence, Giambattista Valli label was born! His first store was opened in Boissy d’Anglas Rue in 2010. The boutique is dedicated to Valli’s ready-to-wear line including jewelry, bags, shoes, accessories and furs.

The label has over 235 selling stations in over 39 countries around the world. His clothes have been popular among celebrities such as Sarah Jessica Parker, Natalie Portman, Halle Berry, Zoe Saldana, Brooke Shields, Diane Kruger, Penélope Cruz, Julianne Moore, Jessica Biel and Queen Rania of Jordon as well as Princess Clotilde Courau. In 2011, he launched his own couture line.

Valli loves reading books and considers them as his dose of opium. He has collection of hundreds of books, especially about fashion. Filled with pages of stunning dresses on celebrities and models and beautiful pictures shot by amazing photographers. In publishing his own book, he had to stop and look back at all the years that have passed by. He had to be his own critic and judge.

Valli is impressed by women who treat his clothing in a personal way. For instance, one day in a party when Valli met Margherita Missoni, he couldn’t figure out on the first go that she was wearing a dress by him.

Valli’s muse revolves around curiosity, however inspirations that come to him are closely tied to women’s allure – imaginary or real – from Little Red Riding Hood to Peggy Guggenheim.

Valli’s only pass time and hobby is fashion. His whole life is about this industry. The loyal admirers of Valli are horrified if the he is labeled as a mere designer, since his fans consider him as a fine couturier.

Giambattista Valli seeks to celebrate the form of a female’s body through his decadent materials, perfect craftsmanship and epic sophistication.