Giambattista Valli

Early life

Born and raised in Rome, Giambattista Valli holds a BA from Liceo as well a degree in Art.

In 1987 he began a foundation course in illustration at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London.

Career

Returning to Italy, he worked in the studio of Roberto Capucci.

In 1990, after a two-year stint with Capucci, the Fendi family called him to oversee, as Senior Designer, the new Fendissime Line. There he experimented with prêt-à-porter .

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, he moved to Paris, the city he adored since his teenage years, and the opportunity to combine his prêt-à-porter and Haute 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.

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 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.

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. His clothes have been worn by the likes of celebrities Penélope Cruz, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jessica Biel, Natalie Portman, Diane Kruger, Halle Berry, Zoe Saldana, Julianne Moore, Brooke Shields and royalty like Her Majesty Rania of Jordan and princess Clotilde Courau.

Style

For the March 2007 Paris fashion show Valli introduced loose and ample coats which were finely tailored with draped panels that undulated away from the body. His suits were shown with Pilgrim hats. Valli fashioned his suits to be lean and long to the knees, widening at the ankles.

Clients

His designs have been worn by actresses, models, and royalty including Sarah Jessica Parker, Hilary Swank, Demi Moore, Penélope Cruz, Jessica Biel, Reese Witherspoon, Naomi Campbell, Mary Kate Olsen, Doutzen Kroes, Iman, Queen Rania of Jordan, and Princess Clotilde of Courau. He shows both ready-to-wear and haute couture collections semiannually in Paris. He is one of the few non-French designers granted membership into the historic Chambre Syndicate de la Haute Couture.