Roberto Cavalli has just presented one of its collections most faithful to the brand's original identity in recent years.
And to understand why it is attracting so much attention, we have to go back to the 2000s.
During that decade, Roberto Cavalli experienced one of its most popular moments. Its designs became a staple among celebrities, and its animal prints, form-fitting dresses, and fabric mixes defined a highly recognizable aesthetic.
But the brand we know today is not run by Roberto Cavalli.
The Italian designer passed away in April 2024, although he had already stepped away from creative direction years earlier.
In 2015, the firm was acquired by the Clessidra fund and began a period of creative changes. After several designers, Fausto Puglisi was appointed creative director in 2020.
Now, for the spring-summer 2027 season, Puglisi has decided to look directly at Cavalli's most successful period.
The collection, titled House of Prints and presented on September 24 during Milan Fashion Week, draws inspiration from Los Angeles and brings back some of the house's most characteristic elements.
Leopard and tiger prints, floral motifs, and tattoo-inspired designs appear on chiffon, satin, knit, and denim garments.
But it's not just the collection that is interesting.
According to Vogue, original Roberto Cavalli pieces are sparking renewed interest in the vintage market. There have even been specific sales organized for his printed leathers from the seventies, while Just Cavalli garments from the 2000s are being sought after once again.
And this poses an interesting point.
At a time when the brand's archival pieces are regaining interest, its new collection retrieves precisely the visual language that made them recognizable.
However, the criticism has not been unanimous.
Business of Fashion has pointed out that while the collection remains faithful to the Cavalli universe, it also relies too heavily on nostalgia.
In other words, Fausto Puglisi has managed to recover Roberto Cavalli's most recognizable image, but it remains to be seen if he can turn that historical identity into something truly new.
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