Valentino

History

Born in Italy and founded by Valentino Garavani, Valentino is a fashion powerhouse and one of the world's best-known designer labels. Founded in 1960 in Roma, the man behind the brand began his fashion career early. Working as an apprentice for local designers, Garavani had the opportunity to train at the École des Beaux-Arts and the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne in Paris.

In 1962, Garavani successfully launched into the luxury fashion world at the Pitti Palace in Firenze. Valentino rapidly became recognised for its haute couture and beautiful red dresses. At this point, women across the world were drawn to the designer's creations.

First Lady Jackie Kennedy became a close friend of Garavani and helped the designer create a connection with influential women. Over the years, Valentino designed wedding dresses for big stars including Anne Hathaway, Courtney Cox, and the Princess Madeleine of Sweden.

Today, Valentino continues to be a leading fashion house. Garavani has since retired from his business after spending 40 years in the career, but his creations continue. The designer presented his final show during the spring/summer '08 fashion week in Paris before handing over his position to Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli. Both have worked at Fendi previously and continue to breathe life into the Valentino collections.

Key selling points:

• Affiliated with several influential celebrities and favoured for wedding dress design
• Valentino has a strong Italian heritage and is loved worldwide
• The designer label offers a wide range of stunning garments all made with quality materials.