Born and raised in Rome, Giambattista Valli has been influenced by his heritage, the movies of Antonioni and inspired by French fashion through the watercolors of Yves Saint Laurent and the drawings of Gruau. Pursuing his dream, Valli enrolled in the Istituto Europeo del Design in 1986 and then in an illustration class at Central St. Martin’s School of Arts in London in 1987. Returning to Italy, he studied under Roberto Capucci and was introduced to the dramatic haute couture clothes and the bursting colors of the Roman master. After a two year period with Capucci, the Fendi family called him to oversee, as Senior Designer, the newly born Fendissime ine. There he experimented with prêt-à-porter in the world of the young, hip Roman clientele. Travelling restlessly between collections, he filled his imagination and mind continuously with the many influences of India’s Mina’s songs, New York of Halston, Antonio Lopez and Bianca Jagger, Paris with Jeanne Moreau, Fellini’s costumes and the women of the café society who would become an important source of inspiration for the times to come.

Appointed Senior Designer for Krizia in 1995, Valli then quickly made his two great dreams become a reality in 1997. After moving to Paris and the opportunity to combine his prêt-à-porter and couture sensibilities, he met Emanuel Ungaro, for whom he headed the design studio alongside until 2001. Launching his own collection in March 2005, Valli held his first solo show in Paris. Showing twice a year during Paris Fashion Week, his collections are sought after by international style icons who have rapidly endorsed his talent by wearing his clothes.

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