Pace Paw Print

Valentino will walk his last runway walk in January with his last fashion line.

Fashion Week is an anticipated and hectic week for designers all over the world. From Versace, to Gwen Stefani's L.A.M.B collection, but this year will be the last year for Valentino's fashion worries. Beginning of Fashion Week, well known Fashion Designer Valentino Garavani announced his retirement in one of his last fashion line shows.

In a statement, Valentino said his January couture collection will be his last. His longtime business partner, Giancarlo Giammetti, will also retire. "I realize that the house that bears my name will go through some changes but I wish to think that the team of designers of the various lines - some of whom have been working by my side of many years - will make me proud of Valentino's products," the 75-year-old designer stated.

Valentino was born on May 11, 1932, in the town of Voghera, Italy. At the age of 17, the high school student became very interested in fashion design and moved to Paris to pursue his new found interest. He studied at the Ecole des Beaux Arts and Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne.

Valentino became an apprentice to Jean Desses, which later became a partnership. Not too long after that in the 1960's Valentino finally started his own fashion house which we know as Valentino. His first runway show came only a couple years later in which he was welcomed into the fashion world with much success.

With the start of his success, came his "V" White Collection logo in which called the attention of one of his most famous and most acknowledged clients to this day. Jackie Kennedy wed in a white creation of Valentino's and Aristotle Onassis that to this day is still awed.

In 1967 he won the Neiman Marcus Award, the Oscar of American fashions, and the Martha Award in Palm Beach. He continues to win awards such as the LĂ©gion d'honneur, the highest honor conferred by the French Republic. Valentino is recognized all over the world for his great success.

In 1998 Valentino sold his company to Holding di Partecipazioni Industriali (HdP) headed by Maurizio Romiti for $300 million, but at the same time Valentino kept the leadership of the maison as creative director. It wasn't too long before the line was on the selling block again and finally landed in Permira's hands.

Valentino stated, "I am especially grateful that I have been able to keep my own style over the decades, in spite of the many changes that have taken place in the world of fashion and in its business."

For years the company had been in good hands and been praised by other incredible designers but it's been said that the reason for Valentino's departure may be because of the company ownership Permira. Valentino brought a lot to the company and grew each year within its clothing line but it seems that Permira doesn't want to keep up with the designer's luxurious lifestyle.

Last spring, Permira saw Alessandra Facchinetti, a former Gucci designer as the person who would be succeeding Valentino, according to people close to both parties. But Permira kept the plan under wraps while Valentino celebrated the designer's 45th anniversary this summer.

With Valentino's departure, after nearly half a century of giving fashion fans something to talk about, Permira sets in motion a succession plan that he has been planning for months in order to revive a storied but underperforming label.

Fashion Week will be his last time to show fans why exactly it is that he has been acknowledged and admired for so long as one of the greatest fashion designers to live. With Fashion Week set in motion, will this increase his sales and have his fans supporting him more? With the Golden Globes, Academy Awards and Grammy's around the corner, will more people wear the Valentino line?

Valentino will be represented one more time in January and then it is farewell to almost a century of what you could call art. Valentino Garavani will take his last walk along with his fashion line. This is the walk he spent so many years working on, an epic walk that may end to soon. Valentino's now known as "the essence of Italian creativity," his career has never shown signs of failure, the great designer is still number one.

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