Days after American brand management company Marquee Brands closed a deal to acquire a majority stake in Roberto Cavalli, designer Fausto Puglisi logged onto Teams to speak enthusiastically about the brand's changing dynamics.
«"I will always be grateful for the work done by Damac and the Sajwani family, and I am pleased that they will remain involved with the company on the real estate side," Puglisi told WWD of the Dubai-based luxury real estate developer, which acquired Cavalli in 2019 and will retain a stake in the business.
More from WWD
-
Swarovski's new nature-inspired jewellery collection, created in collaboration with Ariana Grande, replaces petals with delightful summer fruits.
-
Rio Farming is betting on retail with four acquisitions in Europe this summer.
-
The best Pride Month fashion collections to shop in June.
«"I'm really excited about this new American side, because it's Roberto Cavalli's first market—it always has been. So, working with someone who's truly local, who understands a certain type of clientele and the specifics of product development—that's a source of pride and an opportunity for growth for me," Puglisi continued. "The outlook is definitely bright, so we're absolutely positive. There's a positive energy... and there's also a desire to maintain the brand's high level, which is very important.".
While it's "too early" to receive formal creative direction from the new owners, Puglisi is determined to stick to what he does best: heightening the brand's sensibility and tuning it to a frequency that's relevant today.
His Resort 2027 collection showcased this approach in all its glory, highlighting archival and animal prints, ruffled dresses, and form-fitting knits. All of this was done in an effort to reveal the sexy and uncompromising allure of the Roberto Cavalli woman, who, judging by her numerous red carpet appearances, including at the Cannes Film Festival last month, seems to have regained her lust.
«"Cavalli is sexy, and we're not afraid to use that word. We've always been sexy, and it's time for sexy in general to officially make a comeback," Puglisi said, showcasing looks ranging from patchwork slip dresses or velvet with etched details to cutout dresses with bold graphic prints.
In the same spirit, he paid tribute to the brand's bold heritage by reviving an archival print from the early 2000s featuring an eye paired with roses and pearls, which was used on a variety of loose-fitting pieces.
The theme stood out in the collection, though it had some serious competition from the more outlandish alternatives, ranging from peacock feathers and jaguar spots to scale motifs and faded tie-dye zebra prints.
Among the most interesting pieces were denim pieces, demonstrating the brand's expertise in this category, such as the technology Cavalli patented in 1988, which creates a wet-look effect on jeans by coating them with heat-adhesive plates. A crocodile-like pattern was also used, echoing the print of a satin shirt with an etched pattern in the same shades.
As previously reported, following the completion of the deal, Marquee plans to accelerate the brand's growth through new categories—an enticing prospect for Puglisi, who will gain a new platform for self-expression and experimentation with signature codes.
Gallery: Roberto Cavalli Resort 2027 Ready-to-Wear Collection
The Best of WWD
-
Windowsen RTW Spring 2022
-
Louis Shengtao Chen RTW Spring 2022.
-
Vegan Fashion Week returns to Los Angeles with Nous Etudions and Vegan Tiger taking to the runway.
Subscribe to the WWD newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.