The Brand Management Group Will Partner With Damac to Expand the Italian Fashion House Globally
Marquee Brands has entered into an agreement to acquire a majority stake in Roberto Cavalli, marking a new chapter for the Italian luxury house known for its glamorous aesthetic, animal prints and maximalist identity.
Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Damac Group, the Dubai-based conglomerate led by property developer Hussain Sajwani, will retain a minority stake in the company following the deal, which is expected to close by the end of June.
Roberto Cavalli becomes the 22nd label in Marquee Brands’ portfolio and will serve as the centerpiece of the company’s luxury division. The group’s holdings span fashion, lifestyle and home brands including Martha Stewart, Body Glove and Bruno Magli.
“Roberto Cavalli is one of the Italian fashion houses that epitomise luxury, with a strong creative identity and an enduring brand ethos,” said Heath Golden, Chief Executive Officer of Marquee Brands. “We see extraordinary potential to build on this foundation through careful brand stewardship and strategic expansion.”
As part of the agreement, Marquee Brands has appointed Milan-based The Level Group as its principal operating partner. The company will oversee the development, production and distribution of Roberto Cavalli’s womenswear and menswear collections, while also managing retail, e-commerce and wholesale operations across Europe and the United States.
The partnership aims to accelerate Cavalli’s global growth, with North America and Asia identified as major opportunities for expansion. The company is also expected to broaden the brand into categories including childrenswear and home, while maintaining Italy and Europe as core markets.
Damac, which acquired Roberto Cavalli out of bankruptcy in 2019, will continue to develop Cavalli-branded residences and hospitality projects internationally. The group has invested more than €200 million into the business and had been exploring strategic options for the label over the past year.
“Roberto Cavalli is one of the most distinctive luxury brands in the world,” said Hussain Sajwani, Founder of Damac Group. “After several years spent consolidating the brand’s foundations, we sought a strategic partner with the expertise to take the brand to the next level.”
Founded in Florence in 1970 by the late Roberto Cavalli, the house became internationally synonymous with bold prints, sensual silhouettes and high-octane Italian glamour. More recently, the brand underwent a creative revival under Creative Director Fausto Puglisi, who joined in 2020 and helped return Cavalli to the fashion conversation with celebrity supporters including Taylor Swift.
The deal signals another shift in the luxury landscape as heritage fashion houses increasingly align with brand management groups focused on global licensing, retail expansion and lifestyle development.