Valentino Garavani, founder of the Valentino fashion house, dies at 93

Rome, Jan 21, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani, founder of the Valentino label and one of the key figures who helped shape modern luxury fashion, died in Rome at age 93, Italian media reported.

Garavani launched his brand in 1959 and became internationally recognized in the 1960s for his couture work, notably after Jacqueline Kennedy selected one of his designs for her wedding to Aristotle Onassis in 1968. His house expanded into a global name over the following decades, known for eveningwear, embroidery work and the signature “Valentino red.”

The designer stepped away from the runway in 2008 after marking the 45th anniversary of his brand with events in Rome. The company changed ownership several times before being acquired in 2012 by Mayhoola, a Qatar-backed investment group.

Garavani remained active through the Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti Foundation, which opened cultural and artistic programs in Rome, including the recently inaugurated PM23 space.

His body will lie in state in Rome this week, with a funeral scheduled at Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri on Friday.