Valentino is an Italian luxury fashion house founded in 1960 by Valentino Garavani in Rome. The brand is known for haute couture, ready-to-wear, and accessories, with a particular association with the color red, known within the fashion industry as Valentino red or Rosso Valentino. The company is owned by the Qatari investment fund Mayhoola for Investments.
Valentino Garavani established the house in Rome and gained international recognition after Jacqueline Kennedy wore a Valentino dress for her wedding to Aristotle Onassis in 1968. The founder retired in 2008. Pierpaolo Piccioli served as sole creative director from 2016 to 2024, during which period the brand experienced significant growth and critical acclaim. Alessandro Michele was appointed creative director in 2024.
The house's product range includes haute couture, men's and women's ready-to-wear, handbags, shoes, accessories, eyewear, and fragrances. Valentino Garavani branded accessories, including the Rockstud line of shoes and bags featuring pyramid studs, have become widely recognized luxury items. The brand's couture atelier operates in Rome and produces custom gowns for private clients and red carpet events.
Valentino operates approximately 210 boutiques worldwide, including flagships in Rome, Paris, Milan, New York, and Tokyo, and sells through its own e-commerce platform and select luxury retailers. The brand's fragrances are produced through a licensing agreement with L'Oreal Group. Valentino positions itself as a high luxury house with strong couture credentials and a diversified accessories business.