Roberto Cavalli was born in Florence, Tuscany. His grandfather, Giuseppe Rossi, was a member of the Macchiaioli Movement, whose work is exhibited in the Uffizi Gallery. Cavalli decided to enroll at the local Art Institute, concentrating in textile print. While still a student, he made a series of flower prints on knit that caught the attention of major Italian hosiery factories.
In the early 1970s, he invented and patented a revolutionary printing procedure on leather, and he started creating patchworks of different materials. He debuted these techniques in Paris, immediately getting commissions from the likes of Hermès and Pierre Cardin. At age 30, he presented his first namesake collection at the Salon for Prêt-à-Porter in Paris. He brought it to the catwalks of the Sala Bianca of Palazzo Pitti in Florence, and later on those of Milano Collezioni jeans made of printed denim, intarsia leathers, brocade and wild prints. He then opened his first boutique in 1972 in Saint-Tropez.
The brand has outwears, bags, shoes, scarves, small leather goods, jewellery, belts, umbrellas, media cases, frams, sunglasses, watches, fragrance, wallets, neckwear, cufflinks, etc.
ROBERTO CAVALLI is lending his support to the World Cup. The designer will be dressing singer Shakira for her performance at the opening ceremony of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in Johannesburg on Thursday night.

Performing her new single and the official song of the FIFA World Cup 2010, Waka-Waka, Shakira will take to the stage in a black and white zebra-printed jumpsuit and a silk-fringed skirt worn with fringed bracelets in brown leather and gun silver irregular pearls.
Both looks have been created for Shakira especially by Cavalli, who in the past has dressed Girls Aloud, the Spice Girls and Leona Lewis for special stage performances.