Rome: Renowned Italian fashion designer Roberto Cavalli, famed for his love of python and bold animal prints, passed away on Friday at 83, the luxury company announced.
The company stated in a message to AFP that “it is with deep regret and great sadness that the Roberto Cavalli Maison acknowledges the passing of its founder, Roberto Cavalli.”
“From humble beginnings in Florence, Mr. Cavalli rose to become a globally recognized name, loved and respected by all,” the statement continued.
Cavalli’s eye-catching, skin-baring styles first gained attention in the 1970s, adorning stars like Sophia Loren and Brigitte Bardot. His designs continued to captivate later generations of celebrities, including Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez.
With a penchant for Ferraris, thoroughbred horses, fat cigars, and tailored shirts unbuttoned to reveal his tanned chest, Cavalli’s personal life was as flamboyant as his creations.
He married a Miss Universe runner-up, owned a purple helicopter and a Tuscan vineyard, and mingled with A-listers like Sharon Stone and Cindy Crawford.
However, Cavalli faced challenges, including a downturn in the 1980s when minimalism dominated runways, rendering his form-fitting, feathered creations out of vogue.
A lengthy trial in Italy on tax evasion charges ended in Cavalli’s acquittal, but after his fashion house began experiencing financial losses, a majority stake was sold to private equity in 2015.
Best known for his printed leather and stretchy, sand-blasted jeans, Cavalli always embraced the wow factor in his designs, with animal prints being a signature element.
In 2005, Cavalli was chosen to update the Playboy Bunnies’ uniform, introducing a leopard print version.
Party Crasher
Born on November 15, 1940, in Florence, Italy’s premier leatherworking center, Cavalli started painting on T-shirts to earn money while attending art school.
In a 2012 blog post, he recounted gate-crashing a party in 1970 and impressing the host, a designer, by claiming he printed on leather. When asked to show his work the next day, Cavalli quickly printed a flower design on thin, supple leather, captivating the designer and sparking his career.
Drawing inspiration from glove design, Cavalli patented a new way to print leather with patterns, catching the eye of French luxury brand Hermes and designer Pierre Cardin.
In the 1970s, he opened a shop in Saint Tropez, the playground of the glitterati, and debuted his collection in Paris. He made his Italian debut at Florence’s opulent Palazzo Pitti with boho-chic patchwork designs on denim, combining unpretentious fabric with expert tailoring.
‘I’m Copying God’
Of his love for prints, Cavalli, an animal lover whose menagerie once included a monkey, told Vogue in 2011: “I like everything that is of nature.”
“I started to appreciate that even fish have a fantastic colored ‘dress’, so do the snake and the tiger. I started to understand that God is really the best designer, so I started to copy God,” he said.
In the 1980s, Cavalli’s exotic designs fell out of sync with the minimalist trend but made a strong comeback in the 1990s with distressed jeans.
His fashion empire expanded to include home furnishings, wine, shoes, jewelry, and even a line of vodka with a snakeskin-sheathed bottle.
Taking his style to the high street, he designed a fast-fashion line for Swedish retailer H&M and tour outfits for Beyoncé.
Despite financial difficulties due to increased competition from fashion conglomerates LVMH and Kering, Cavalli stepped down as creative director in 2013.
In 2015, Milan-based private equity group Clessidra bought a 90-percent stake in the company, but restructuring efforts failed to reverse losses.
After filing for administration and closing its US stores, the fashion group was acquired in November 2019 by Vision Investments, the private investment company of Dubai real-estate billionaire Hussain Sajwani.
UK government launches plans to renationalize railways.
London: On Thursday, the UK’s new Labour government introduced long-promised draft legislation to renationalize the country’s rail services, most of which are currently privately owned.
“After years of unacceptably low performance, the bill is a landmark change that will allow the Government to bring rail passenger services back into public ownership,” the government stated.
Labour triumphed over the Conservative party in the July 4 elections, returning to Downing Street after 14 years in opposition with a commitment to improve the country’s struggling transport services.
If passed, the legislation will transfer rail operators to public ownership upon the expiration of their private contracts or sooner in cases of poor management, with oversight provided by “Great British Railways.”
The government asserted it would avoid paying compensation fees to rail operators, as all current contracts are set to expire by 2027.
Rail privatization began in the mid-1990s under Conservative Prime Minister John Major, though the rail network remained public, managed by Network Rail.
In recent years, the state has taken over four out of 14 operators in England due to poor performance, with the intention of temporarily managing them before returning them to the private sector.
The main rail operators in Scotland and Wales, where transport policy is handled by devolved administrations in Edinburgh and Cardiff, are also state-owned.
British railways have faced persistent strikes over pay and conditions in recent years, driven by a cost-of-living crisis. Train cancellations are frequent, and passengers often complain about high ticket prices.
“Our transport system is broken, but today’s bill will pave the way for better trains that work for everyone, no matter where you live,” said Transport Minister Louise Haigh.
‘Britain is back’: PM Keir Starmer tells Europe at summit.
Woodstock: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged on Thursday to strengthen ties with European allies on security and illegal migration, insisting “Britain is back” as he works to rebuild bridges after Brexit.
Starmer, who became Prime Minister two weeks ago, stated the UK would be “resetting our approach” to improve relations strained by the country’s departure from the European Union under his Conservative predecessors.
“We are going to deepen our cooperation on defence and security and on illegal migration,” he told more than 45 leaders as he opened the European Political Community (EPC) meeting at Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill.
Europe is currently grappling with challenges ranging from supporting Ukraine after Russia’s invasion to dismantling people-smuggling gangs contributing to record levels of irregular migration.
There are also concerns about the potential return of Donald Trump to the White House, which could affect his commitment to NATO.
Trump’s newly elected running mate, J.D. Vance, is a critic of military aid to Ukraine and advocates for negotiations with Russia to end the ongoing war.
“It’s very important to be here, for Ukraine, especially during this tough period of the war,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at Blenheim Palace, near Oxford, southern England.
“It’s crucial to maintain unity in Europe because this unity always leads to strong decisions,” added Zelensky.
At the summit, Zelensky signed long-term security cooperation agreements with the Czech Republic and Slovenia.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, attending an EPC summit for the first time, emphasized that aiding Ukraine must remain a “joint effort” by Europe and the United States.
‘No Silver Bullet’
In contrast to the often contentious relations before Brexit, Starmer, who led Labour to a landslide election victory on July 4, assured European counterparts that his government would be “a friend and a partner ready to work with you.”
He described irregular migration as a “crisis” affecting every country present. More than 380,000 undocumented migrants crossed the EU’s borders last year, with tens of thousands reaching Britain.
The issue was a significant challenge for previous Conservative administrations, who had promised strict action to “take back control” of Britain’s borders after Brexit.
Starmer called for sharing resources, intelligence, and tactics to “shut down the smuggling routes and smash the gangs” behind migrant Channel crossings from northern France in small boats.
He agreed on initiatives with Slovenia and Slovakia to tackle organized crime and pledged £84 million ($108 million) to help address poverty driving migrants to Europe.
French President Emmanuel Macron stated that cooperation was “the most efficient” way to tackle the problem, following an incident where one migrant died and 71 others were rescued off the French coast. However, he cautioned that there was no “silver bullet” to solve the issue.
‘Game Changer’
Starmer held one-on-one conversations with several European leaders, including Macron, outlining his vision for Britain’s renewed relationship with the EU.
Although he supported Britain remaining in the EU during the 2016 Brexit referendum and was once Labour’s Brexit spokesman, Starmer has ruled out rejoining the European single market, customs union, or freedom of movement to avoid reopening a contentious issue among British politicians and the public.
However, he aims to negotiate a new security pact with the EU, a veterinary agreement to ease border checks on agricultural foods, and an improved trading deal.
While the EU has indicated openness to discussions, Macron warned there could be no “cherry-picking” by London.
Starmer quickly congratulated Ursula von der Leyen on securing another term as European Commission president and expressed his eagerness to work closely with her.
Irish Premier Simon Harris described Labour’s reset with Europe as a “game changer,” while European Council Chief Charles Michel expressed hope for a “new chapter” with the UK.
The choice of Blenheim Palace, with its associations with Churchill, added further symbolism to the event. The Treaty of London, which established the Council of Europe in 1949, was on display.
‘It’s unbearable’: Heatwaves scorch southern and eastern Europe
PARIS: Unrelenting heat is blanketing swathes of southern and eastern Europe, with dozens of cities on red alert as scorching temperatures fuel wildfires, strain power grids, and make daily life unbearable.
There was no let up Thursday as the mercury again hovered near or above 40 degrees Celsius in many countries, with worse expected in the coming days.
Europe is no stranger to baking summer spells but climate change is making heatwaves longer, stronger and more frequent, sustaining dangerously high temperatures even at night.
Greece, which recorded its earliest-ever heatwave this summer, withered through its 11th-straight day above 40°C on Thursday.
Nights in the capital Athens have hit 30°C as heat rolls unbroken from one day to the next.
On Thursday, authorities closed the Acropolis, the country’s most visited attraction, during the hottest hours for a second day in a row.
Some outdoor work, like construction and meal delivery, have also been suspended.
Cooler weather isn’t expected until July 26.
In the heart of Athens, tourists sought precious shade as Sam Rizek, a waiter, drank chilled water to keep the heat at bay.
“It’s not easy, it makes my work harder,” the 19-year-old told AFP. “Here in Greece, we have to get used to it.”
‘We can’t sleep’
In Italy, zoo keepers gave animals ice blocks to ward off heat stroke as temperatures soared, while 14 cities including Florence, Palermo and Bologna were placed on red alert.
To make matters worse, swarms of locusts thriving in the hot conditions have invaded fields and orchards in the eastern region of Emilia Romagna.
“The high temperatures and the lack of rain have favoured the massive proliferation of one of the insects most feared by farmers,” said Italy’s main agricultural lobby Coldiretti.
In Hungary, which has been under a maximum heat warning since July 7, searing temperatures have warped an airport runway while the state-run train operator urged passengers to take air-conditioned buses instead of its outdated rail cars.
Croatia and Serbia this week consumed a record amount of electricity as residents switched on air conditioners to beat the heat.
It followed an early start to the Balkans summer in June when a sudden heatwave saw power grids overwhelmed in Albania, Bosnia, southern Croatia and Montenegro.
In Romania, gripped by a heatwave since Saturday, evening temperature records have tumbled as blistering daytime highs have carried into long, suffocating nights.
“Without air conditioning it’s unbearable,” 20-year-old Alexandru Tudor told AFP in Bucharest, which is on its highest state of alert.
“It’s very hot in the evening too, and we can’t sleep.”
Dangerous highs
Ilan Kelman from University College London said prolonged heatwaves could turn deadly if the human body was not given ample chance to cool off at night.
“This is what we need to be worried about. Temperatures are not falling at night,” said the professor of disasters and health.
The past 13 months have been the hottest ever recorded, and heatwaves have already this year hit North America, Mexico, India and Thailand, to name a few.
The EU’s climate monitor Copernicus said the average temperature for June across Europe was 1.57°C above the 1991-2020 average, making the month the joint-second warmest on record.
But this was largely felt in southeast regions and Turkey, with western Europe experiencing a slow start to summer, with near or below average temperatures for June.
Paco Pozo from Cordoba, a southern region of Spain, said the heat so far had been “completely bearable” compared to past years.
“At this time of year, normally, we would be asphyxiated. But so far, we are doing really well,” he said.
But this doesn’t look set to last.
Spain declared its first heatwave of the year on Thursday with temperatures forecast to hit 44°C in some southern areas in coming days, accompanied by hot and uncomfortable nights.
A wall of heat from Africa driving up temperatures was also expected to bring sand and dust from the Sahara across Spain, the State Meteorological Agency said.
‘We’re worried’
In all these regions, deadly wildfires have accompanied the tinder-dry conditions.
Two firefighters died on Wednesday battling a blaze near the southern Italian city of Matera, while a separate fire near Rome shrouded the capital in a choking yellow haze.
In Greece – where 40 new blazes were recorded in the past 24 hours – firefighters were stretched to the limit.
“We’re worried,” veteran firefighter Konstantinos Goularas told AFP in Athens as a small group of comrades rallied outside parliament for more resources.
“We don’t have enough firefighters for the summer.”
Hans-Martin Fussel, from the European Environment Agency, said western Europe was often better prepared for heatwaves than southern or eastern regions where the threat was much greater.
“Cities in Europe are clearly waking up but most of them are not yet ready for the threat,” the climate change adaptation expert told AFP.
Arson suspected in fire that killed 7 in France
Nice: An apartment building blaze early Thursday killed seven people in the southern French city of Nice and police were investigating the fire as a possible arson, authorities said.
The dead include three children – 5, 7 and 10 years old – and a 17-year-old teenager who tried to escape by jumping from a window, they said.
The apartment was occupied by a family believed to have Comoran origins, the regional prefect Hugues Moutouh said, referring to the southern African island nation.
Ten people were inside when the fire broke out.
Rescuers were alerted at around 2:30 am (0030 GMT) to the blaze on the seventh floor of the building in the low-income neighbourhood of Les Moulins, known for being a drug-dealing hub, in the west of the city.
In spite of the substantial resources deployed, “unfortunately seven people died during this fire”, firefighters said.
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on social media that the quick arrival of firefighters “probably prevented more deaths”.
Nice prosecutor Damien Martinelli said investigators were looking into a “criminal” cause for the fire.
“In light of the initial evidence, I have opened an investigation into acts of arson leading to death,” he told reporters at the scene.
The blaze probably broke out on the building’s second floor and spread to higher floors, authorities said.
Rescuers said that three people were taken to hospital, one of them with life-threatening injuries.
They said firefighters were confronted by a “raging apartment fire” on the seventh floor of the building. They carried out three aerial ladder rescues and evacuated dozens.
In total, 25 fire engines and 72 firefighters were involved in tackling the fire.
Twenty people were evacuated to a temporary shelter, with Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi saying a crisis unit to help anyone affected by the fire.
Central Paris locks down for Olympics as athletes arrive
Paris: French security forces began locking down large parts of central Paris on Thursday ahead of the hugely complex Olympics opening ceremony next week on the river Seine.
The opening parade along six kilometres (four miles) of the river led to the closure of riverside central districts to most vehicles from 5:00 am (0300 GMT) on Thursday.
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Anyone wanting to enter the highest-security “grey zone” along both banks of the Seine, such as residents or tourists with hotel reservations in the area, will need a security pass in the form of a QR code.
The City of Light is transforming ahead of the July 26-August 11 Olympics when around 10 million spectators are expected
Temporary sports stadiums have sprung up at popular locations such as the Eiffel Tower, the Invalides or the Place de la Concorde, while new Olympic VIP lanes are the latest traffic-snarling addition.
“It’s true that our concept of having a large number of temporary sites in the heart of the city, obviously with that, there are constraints, but I feel like people are seeing what we’re doing,” Paris 2024 director general Etienne Thobois told AFP last month.
Many central Metro stations will also be closed on Thursday until the day after the opening ceremony, which will see 6,000-7,000 athletes sail down the Seine on around a hundred barges and river boats.
It will be the first time a Summer Olympics has opened outside the main athletics stadium, with up to 500,000 people set to watch in person from stands, on the river banks and from the overlooking apartments.
Village opens
Around 45,000 officers are set to be on duty for the July 26 parade, assisted by thousands of soldiers and private security agents.
The vast security operation has been giving senior police officers cold sweats ever since it was announced in 2021 because of the difficulty of securing so many spectators in such a large, densely packed urban area.
On Wednesday, police in eastern France announced they had arrested a suspected far-right extremist who had made threats against the Games in a group on the Telegram phone application.
The installation of tens of thousands of metal security barriers all along the opening ceremony route in Paris has outraged some residents, who feel closed in.
“It’s a bit like being in Planet of the Apes,” Aissa Yago, who lives on the Ile Saint Louis in central Paris, told AFP this week from behind a barrier. “All they need to do is throw us some peanuts.”
Elsewhere on Thursday, the first athletes are set to arrive to take up residence in the newly built Olympic Village in a northern suburb of the capital.
Comprising around 40 different low-rise housing blocs, the complex has been built as a showcase of innovative construction techniques using low-carbon concrete, water recycling and reclaimed building materials.
It was intended to be free of air-conditioning, although Olympic delegations have ordered around 2,500 portable cooling units for their athletes out of fear of the impact of high temperatures on their performances.
“The major countries are going to arrive on the first day … so Great Britain, the United States, New Zealand, Brazil, Switzerland,” the deputy head of the French delegation, Andre-Pierre Goubert, told AFP.
At full capacity, the village will host 14,500 people including 9,000 athletes.
The Olympics will be followed by the Paralympics from August 28-September 8.
Frequently Asked Question
Who was Roberto Cavalli?
Roberto Cavalli was an Italian fashion designer known for his extravagant and bold designs, especially his use of animal prints and luxurious fabrics. He was a prominent figure in the fashion industry for decades.
What made Roberto Cavalli famous in the fashion world?
Cavalli gained fame for his distinctive designs featuring python and flamboyant animal prints. His eye-catching and glamorous styles were popular among celebrities and the international jet set.
How did Roberto Cavalli start his career in fashion?
Cavalli began his career by painting on T-shirts to earn money while attending art school in Florence. He eventually patented a method of printing on leather, which caught the attention of major fashion houses like Hermes and Pierre Cardin.
What are some notable achievements of Roberto Cavalli’s career?
Throughout his career, Cavalli opened a boutique in Saint Tropez, debuted his collections in Paris, and presented in Italy at Florence’s Palazzo Pitti. He expanded his brand to include home furnishings, wine, shoes, jewelry, and even a line of vodka.
What challenges did Roberto Cavalli face during his career?
Cavalli experienced a downturn in the 1980s when minimalist fashion trends overshadowed his extravagant designs. He also faced a lengthy trial in Italy on tax evasion charges, which ended in his acquittal. In later years, his fashion house faced financial difficulties, leading to the sale of a majority stake to private equity.
Conclusion
Roberto Cavalli’s passing at the age of 83 marks the end of an era in the fashion world. Known as the King of Leopard Print, his bold and extravagant designs left an indelible mark on the industry. From his humble beginnings in Florence to becoming a globally recognized name, Cavalli’s career was characterized by innovation, resilience, and an unyielding commitment to glamour. Despite facing challenges, including a shift in fashion trends and financial difficulties, his influence endures. Cavalli’s legacy is reflected in the continued admiration for his daring style and the inspiration he provides to designers and fashion enthusiasts worldwide. His contributions to fashion will be remembered and celebrated for years to come.
