With a new financial backer to support its growth, Valentino is developing its men’s wear business with plans to open dedicated stores around the world.
After putting their design stamp on the brand’s women’s and couture divisions, creative designers Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli have been applying their touch to the men’s category in order to convey the same Valentino message. Accordingly, the designers have elected Paris as the location for their fall men’s show and will unveil it on Wednesday at the Hôtel Salomon de Rothschild, after two seasons in Florence at the men’s trade show Pitti Uomo.
“Florence was fantastic, but Valentino is connected to Paris historically, it’s always shown there and we want to offer a global vision of the brand,” said Chiuri in an interview here, where the company was holding an event to present its Camouflage capsule collection with artist Liu Bolin during Men’s Fashion Week.
Mayhoola for Investments, an investment vehicle backed by a private investor group from Qatar, agreed to acquire Valentino Fashion Group SpA in July. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Milan-based sources pegged the price tag at about 700 million euros, or $907 million at current exchange.
Piccioli said developing “the men’s silhouette is the closest to the work we’ve done on accessories for Valentino.”
“We’ve always been serene about our work, and this focus on men’s wear reflects our confidence and a more mature vision,” said Chiuri.
Source: WWD