Ranking: most influential Italian designers in history

Italy is world famous for its art, its culture and its fashion. Many Italian designers have left their mark in the history of the fashion system, creating iconic collections and innovating the style and taste of dressing. In this article we want to present you a ranking of the most influential Italian designers in history, based on their successes, their fame and their impact on the world of fashion. Let's find out together who the masters of Made in Italy are who have conquered the hearts and wardrobes of millions of people.

10. Gianfranco Ferrè

Gianfranco Ferrè (Legnano, 1944 – Milan, 2007) was one of the most famous and appreciated Italian stylists in the world. Graduated in architecture, he began his career in 1970, launching collections for women, men and children, as well as accessories and perfumes. His style was characterized by great attention to the shape, structure and details of the garments, which earned him the nickname "the architect of fashion". Among his most important successes are the artistic direction of the Dior fashion house from 1989 to 1996 and the creation of the GF Ferrè brand in 1999.

9. Elsa Schiaparelli

Elsa Schiaparelli (Rome, 1890 – Paris, 1973) was one of the first and most original Italian stylists in history. Having moved to Paris in the 1920s, she began collaborating with surrealist artists such as Salvador Dalí and Jean Cocteau, transferring their vision to the world of fashion. His creations were bold, extravagant and ironic, such as the famous hat in the shape of an upside-down shoe, the dress with a large lobster printed on the skirt or the tattered and torn evening dress. She also invented the trouser skirt and the shocking pink colour, becoming an icon of style and creative freedom.

8. Alberta Ferretti

Alberta Ferretti (Cattolica, 1950) is one of the most elegant and refined Italian stylists on the contemporary scene. She founded her company in 1974 and debuted on the Milanese catwalks in 1981. Her style is romantic, feminine and sophisticated, based on the use of fine fabrics, delicate embroidery and pastel colours. Among his most famous collections, we remember the one dedicated to Disney princesses in 2016 and the one inspired by nature in 2019. He also created the Philosophy brand in 1984 and the Aeffe brand in 1986.

7. Gianni Versace

Gianni Versace (Reggio Calabria, 1946 – Miami Beach, 1997) was one of the most influential and beloved Italian designers in history. He founded his maison in 1978 in Milan and conquered the world with his glamorous, sensual and provocative collections, which mixed elements of pop culture, art and Greek mythology. Among its most iconic pieces, we remember the safety dress worn by Elizabeth Hurley in 1994, the jungle dress worn by Jennifer Lopez in 2000 and the gold dress worn by Naomi Campbell in 1998. After her tragic death, which occurred at the hands of a serial killer, her company was carried on by her brothers Donatella and Santo.

6. Miuccia Prada

Miuccia Prada (Milan, 1949) is one of the most innovative and influential Italian designers in contemporary fashion. He inherited the family business, founded in 1913 by Mario Prada, in 1978 and transformed it into a luxury empire, launching collections of clothing, accessories, perfumes and eyewear. His style is eclectic, intellectual and non-conformist, capable of anticipating trends and creating new aesthetic codes. Among his most famous inventions are silk-effect nylon, the triangular logo and the Miu Miu line, created in 1993. He also founded the Prada Foundation in 1993, dedicated to the promotion of art and culture.

5. Guccio Gucci

Guccio Gucci (Florence, 1881 – Milan, 1953) was the founder of the Gucci fashion house, one of the most prestigious and famous in the world. After working as a doorman at the Savoy Hotel in London, he opened his first shop in Florence in 1921, specializing in the production of high-quality luggage and leather goods. Its style was inspired by equestrian elegance and classic taste, enriched by original details such as the horsebit, the green-red-green ribbon and the GG monogram. After his death, the company was managed by his four sons: Aldo, Vasco, Ugo and Rodolfo.

4. Giorgio Armani

Giorgio Armani (Piacenza, 1934) is one of the most famous and appreciated Italian designers in the world. He founded his company in 1975 in Milan and revolutionized the concept of male and female elegance, introducing the unstructured jacket, the soft suit and the greige color. His style is sober, refined and versatile, suitable for every occasion and every personality. Among its best-known lines are Emporio Armani, Armani Jeans, Armani Exchange and Armani Privé. He also created perfumes, cosmetics, watches, jewelry and hotels.

3. Valentino Garavani

Valentino Garavani (Voghera, 1932) is one of the most famous and admired Italian stylists in history. He began his career in Paris in the 1950s and founded his maison in Rome in 1959. His style is synonymous with elegance, glamor and romance, characterized by the use of the color red, defined as "Valentino red", and by the workmanship of lace and embroidery. Among his most memorable creations are the white dress worn by Jackie Kennedy for her wedding to Aristotle Onassis in 1968, the black dress worn by Julia Roberts at the Oscars in 2001 and the pink dress worn by Anne Hathaway at the Oscars in 2011.

2. Roberto Cavalli

Roberto Cavalli (Florence, 1940) is one of the most original and innovative Italian designers in contemporary fashion. He founded his company in 1970 in Florence and invented a technique for printing on leather that allowed him to create unique and unrepeatable garments. His style is exuberant, sensual and wild, inspired by nature and animals. Among his most distinctive items are jeans with a crackle effect, dresses with animal prints and caftans with fringes. It also launched lines of accessories, perfumes, glasses and watches.

1. Dolce & Gabbana

Domenico Dolce (Polizzi Generosa, 1958) and Stefano Gabbana (Milan, 1962) are two Italian designers who founded their fashion house in 1985 in Milan. Their style is unmistakable, inspired by Sicilian culture and tradition, Mediterranean sensuality and Italian baroque. Among their most famous garments are corsets with built-in garter belts, dresses with floral or fruity prints, suits with padded or shaped jackets and trousers with a low or cigarette waist. They also created lines of underwear, perfumes, eyewear and watches.