Greek Designer Sophia Kokosalaki, Diesel’s Fashion Engine

Greek Designer Sophia Kokosalaki, Diesel’s Fashion Engine

The iconic fashion brand Diesel may be an Italian company, but it has a young Greek designer who has helped make it a must-buy for its fans: Sophia Kokosalaki, who has her own brand in London and in the past few years has been working as Diesel’s creative director, prepared her last show for them.

Kokosalaki was born and raised in Greece,  where she studied literature before moving to London to try her hand in the fashion world and open her own company in 1999, before joining Diesel as well. Kokosalaki worked for the company’s upscale denim brand Diesel Black Gold a/k/a DBG. Since June 2009, Kokosalaki has supervised Diesel creations, turning the Italian firm into a reference point for media and enthusiasts in the modern fashion field.

According to fashion sector followers, her talent and creativity have given a dark and romantic touch to the brand’s clothes and have become an essential part of the New York Fashion Week. The Greek designer’s final collection for the Diesel brand will be showcased at NYC Fashion Week in September this year. Alexa Chung, Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson are some of the celebrities who’ve chosen to wear Kokosalaki’s creations at several events.

Qatari Royal Family Buys Iconic Italian Fashion House Valentino

Qatari Royal Family Buys Iconic Italian Fashion House Valentino

 

 

Mayhoola for Investments S.P.C, an investment vehicle of the Qatari royal family, has acquired iconic Italian fashion house Valentino Fashion Group SpA for €700 million ($857 million), making it one of the biggest acquisitions of a leading European designer brand by a Middle East investor.

Valentino did not disclose the identity of the buyer, but British media recently reported that Qatar's royal family was in talks to buy the brand for about £550-600 million.

Valentino that once made dresses for Sophia Loren, is 80 per cent owned by London-based private equity fund Permira and the remaining 20 per cent by Italian textile giant Marzotto Group.

Valentino chief executive Stefano Sassi said he was "delighted" with the acquisition. "During the past few years, despite swings in the luxury markets, the company has operated with great intensity and remained focused on maximising the potential of the Valentino brand.''

Mayhoola for Investments S.P.C, an investment vehicle of the Qatari royal family, has acquired iconic Italian fashion house Valentino Fashion Group SpA for €700 million ($857 million), making it one of the biggest acquisitions of a leading European designer brand by a Middle East investor.

Valentino did not disclose the identity of the buyer, but British media recently reported that Qatar's royal family was in talks to buy the brand for about £550-600 million.Valentino that once made dresses for Sophia Loren, is 80 per cent owned by London-based private equity fund Permira and the remaining 20 per cent by Italian textile giant Marzotto Group.

Valentino chief executive Stefano Sassi said he was "delighted" with the acquisition. "During the past few years, despite swings in the luxury markets, the company has operated with great intensity and remained focused on maximising the potential of the Valentino brand.''

"This effort should drive a 60 per cent increase in revenues from 2009 to 2012. Our new shareholder will help us to reach our full potential," he said.

Milan-based Valentino was founded in 1960 by Paris-trained Valentino Garavani. It operates in over 70 countries and has more than 700 single-brand boutiques and 112 directly managed shops.
 
Valentino, whose current clients include Hollywood actresses Jennifer Aniston, Keira Knightley and Cameron Diaz, became famous after Valentino designed the wedding dress for Jacqueline Onassis in 1968ino designed the wedding dress for Jacqueline Onassis in 1968.

Valentino Has Reportedly Been Sold For €600 Million Euro

Valentino Has Reportedly Been Sold For €600 Million Euro

The Italian fashion house was bought by private equity firm Permira five years ago. The company worked hard to improve Valentino’s finances and is now selling it to an investor.According to British newspaper The Telegraph, the sale will be worth €600 million.The buyer has not been identified yet, with the publication only saying it is a “sovereign wealth fund”.

Last year, Valentino’s sales had soared by 20 per cent when compare to 2010 and totalled €322.4 million. The before tax earnings had gone up 300 per cent to €22.2 million. At the time Permira bought the fashion house, things weren’t so good. The label’s namesake designer Valentino Garavani left which plunged the company into problems.

Designers Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli were brought in to try and open up the brand to a wider audience. The move worked well, with the pair’s forward-looking designs praised when they were presented at Paris Haute Couture Week this month.