After months of speculation, Roberto Cavalli has confirmed a partnership with Tomorrow, the London-based distribution company that will take over the global distribution of the brand’s main line starting from FW26.
The move aims to strengthen Cavalli’s international presence and consolidate its position in an increasingly saturated market, putting to rest persistent rumours of an imminent sale. According to the brand’s official statement, the goal of the collaboration is to “drive the global growth of the brand”, not to change its ownership. Yet, Cavalli’s financial situation remains fragile.
Figures that don’t add up
Despite repeated attempts to revive the house since its acquisition by Dubai businessman Hussain Sajwani in 2019, the numbers remain stubbornly in the red.
The 2024 financial report closed with losses of €23.3 million, compared with €20.3 million the previous year. Net revenues rose slightly to €79.3 million, but production value dropped to €93.2 million, while operating costs remained high at around €116 million.
The licensing division—long one of the company’s pillars—collapsed by 55 %, generating just €5.5 million. Reserves, now down to €33.4 million, barely cover part of an overall deficit approaching €53 million.
Fashion, luxury… and real estate
Sajwani, owner of Damac Properties, not only controls the fashion brand but also the real estate projects bearing its name, including the spectacular Cavalli Tower in Dubai.
Several reports suggest that the entrepreneur may be considering selling the fashion division to focus on his far more profitable property empire, which boasts a portfolio worth over €16 billion.
Cavalli has thus become a name that sells apartments rather than dresses—a symbol of an era in which luxury extends far beyond the catwalk.
The creative challenge
Since 2020, Fausto Puglisi has led Cavalli’s creative direction, joined in 2023 by CEO Sergio Azzolari, formerly of Tod’s and Dsquared2. The collections have received positive reviews, and collaborations such as Cavalli × Skims have introduced the brand to new audiences. Yet the financial results fail to reflect that creative momentum.
With Tomorrow stepping in, the company is expected to pursue a more collaborative and globally integrated strategy, betting on crossovers between fashion, pop culture, and digital distribution.
A crowded market
The Cavalli case mirrors a broader reality: luxury fashion is facing structural saturation. Neither heritage nor nostalgia seem enough to sustain a maison in a landscape dominated by conglomerates, influencers, and fleeting trends.
Meanwhile, the brand’s vintage pieces remain cult favourites, often more sought-after than its current collections—a reminder that in today’s fashion cycle, the past can sometimes outshine the present.
Sigue toda la información de HIGHXTAR desde Facebook, Twitter o Instagram