Roberto Cavalli, whose creations adorned celebrities, dies at 83

Italian fashion designer Roberto Cavalli, founder of the eponymous Italian fashion house, has died at the age of 83.

The designer breathed his last at his home in Florence on Friday, reports Italian news agency ANSA.

He was known for his animal-print designs loved by showbusiness stars and also famous as Taylor Swift, Madonna, Beyoncé and other A-listers wore his bold and intricate designs.

Roberto Cavalli, who founded his label in the early 1970s, left behind his six children and his partner Sandra Bergman Nilsson to mourn his death.

Cavalli had been ill for some time, Sergio Azzolari, chief executive of Roberto Cavalli, said in a post on Instagram.

Meanwhile, the Roberto Cavalli company has expressed condolences on his death with Mr Cavalli’s family.

Cavalli used bright colors and patchwork effects in his often revealing creations, He was an extroverted art lover who wore tinted glasses and smoked a cigar.

He used to expand into real estate and often spent evenings in his popular nightclub “Just Cavalli Cafe” in central Milan.

Although his vision of fashion could not have been more different, Roberto always had “enormous respect” for Cavalli, Giorgio Armani said.

Armani posted on social media platform X that Roberto Cavalli, known for a flamboyant, glamorous style and textile innovations, was capable of transforming fantasy into seductive clothes and wonderful in his use of prints as well as a true artist.

He was born in Florence from a family of artists on November 15, 1940.

As he was killed in a Nazi roundup known as the Cavriglia massacre in 1944, Cavalli was orphaned of his father at just four years old.

In the early 1970s, he became well-known for his excessively sexy style and animal designs. His designs remained his trademark throughout his long career.

Italian media reported that Cavalli’s funeral was scheduled to be held in Florence on Monday.