Contextual journal PDF

Roberto Cavalli is an Italian fashion designer and inventor. He is known for exotic prints and for creating the
sand-blasted look for jeans. In Milan in 1994, Cavalli presented the first sand-blasted jeans. By December of
the same year, he had opened boutiques in Saint Barth, in the French Caribbean, followed by others in
Venice and Saint-Tropez. The high-end Italian fashion house Roberto Cavalli sells luxury clothing, perfume
and leather accessories. In the early 1970s, he invented and patented a printing procedure on leather, and
started creating patchworks of different materials.
Cavali first came about while studying at the Academy of Art in Florence in 1957, Cavalli decided not to
become an artist, instead experimenting by applying painterly techniques to textiles in ways that had not
been practised before. In 1970, Roberto Cavalli showcased his revolutionary materials for the first time in his
debut collection. ‘I had this idea to print on leather.’ This then led to Cavalli opening his first boutique in
Saint-Tropez in 1972, foreseeing the potential of the fishing village as a desirable destination for the fashion
elite. Cavalli's career entered an exciting new phase at the start of the Nineties. Applying artistic techniques
to denim, he presented his first printed jeans in 1988, showed the first sand-blasted jeans in his autumn/
winter 1994 collection, and worked with Lycra to invent stretch jeans in 1995. These innovations in textile
technology consequently exploded in popularity and have diversified the denim market dramatically.
Many of his work contains a large amount of patterns that are either intracity sewn onto the fabric or printed
onto the fabric. I really like the finish that these techniques have on the fabric as it creates more interest. I
also like the way he embellishes fabrics that are hard to embellish such as leather and sheer fabric. I also like
the fact that he embellishes the fabric with patterns that are highly detailed and contain many colours
making me more interested in his work.
The images that I have looked at are from the magazine Vogue were they talked about his ‘Resort’ collection
in 2017. His collection was described as ‘The lookbook shoot was in a beautiful Milanese palazzo whose
secluded garden had an almost unreal, fairy-tale feel. Long-limbed models roamed the manicured lawns
with dreamy nonchalance, looking fabulous in various iterations of Chantilly lace–encrusted bohemian
dresses. Textiles from Latin America embroidered with Aztec motifs, ornate antique jewelry, and ’70s suede
platform sandals and python boots were piled up and scattered everywhere in decadent chaos. Artsy mood
boards looked like carnets de voyage belonging to a jet-setting aristocrat brat returning home after a long
journey to a far-flung destination. As a rendition of Cavalli’s world, the set couldn’t have been more telling.’
What attracted me to this collection was the use of layering with in the fabric and the different combinations
of fabrics used in every style from suede to leather. I also like how colourful each piece is. I find that the
Bohemian style of clothes is very light and elegant and I think that he has perfected this within the collection.
The use of multiple fabrics, layered and the use of heavy patterns allows for the dresses and suits to look
lightweight and effortless when wearing it.
I also like the colour combinations that are used as it allows for the colours to stand out. For example within
the suit, he has used a dark fabric layered with bright luminous flowers allowing for the pattern to be the
centre of attention within the suit. However, normally within the bohemian style of clothing many of the
colours are subdued and complement each other well. Such as various tones of pinks used one item of
clothing or various warm colours combined on one dress to make it look more interesting.
I would like to look further into the bohemian style of clothing as I like the patterns used and also the style of
clothing that is worn. I like the use of excessive fabric on the clothes and that the style is very different from
items you would see on the high street. I would also like to explore the bohemian style in furniture and
weather the same techniques, styles, patterns and fabrics are also used in this area as well as clothing.