Italian Fashion Designer, Roberto Cavalli Dies At 83

Cavalli, renowned for his opulent patterns and vibrant prints, died in Florence.

Roberto Cavalli, a popular Italian fashion designer, has died at the age of 83.

Cavalli, renowned for his opulent patterns and vibrant prints, died in Florence.
"It is with great sadness that today we say our final goodbyes to our founder Roberto Cavalli," his brand said in an Instagram post on Friday, April 12.

"From humble beginnings in Florence, Roberto rose to become a globally renowned name, liked and revered by all. Roberto thought that everyone has the potential to be an artist.

"Roberto Cavalli's legacy will live on via his creativity, his love of nature and via his family who he cherished."

Cavalli's cause of death was not immediately revealed.

He was noted for his luxurious aesthetic, which included colorful designs inspired by exotic flora and fauna, high hemlines, and even lower waistlines.

His lifestyle was as extravagant, with his primary property a 13-hectare (32-acre) Tuscan estate complete with a vineyard, tanning machine, racehorses, Ferraris, and a zoo of animals including parrots, iguanas, a Persian cat, a monkey, and a tiger.

His home also includes a personal helicopter and a ship named Freedom. The design was inspired by the film Batman.

Cavalli founded his namesake label in 1970, making a name for himself by patenting a new method of printing on leather.