Rome – Among the thousands of people who paid tribute today to the mortal remains of fashion designer Valentino Garavani, who passed away on Monday 19 January at the age of 93, there was also a delegation from the Dicastery for Evangelisation , composed of Archbishop Samuele Sangalli , Monsignor Sergio Bertocchi and Sister Benedetta Chinellato.
The so-called ‘Valentino Palace’ the Roman headquarters of the historic fashion house and the Garavani-Giammetti Foundation, where the designer’s funeral chamber was set up, is located in Piazza Mignanelli, adjacent to the “Palazzo di Propaganda Fide”, the historic headquarters of the Missionary Dicastery.
The premises of the Foundation are owned by the Dicastery for Evangelisation. The Foundation has always honoured its commitments to the Dicastery with punctuality and fairness.
Archbishop Sangalli, Monsignor Bertocchi and Sister Chinellato, on behalf of the missionary Dicastery, offered their condolences to the family and to the designer’s long-time collaborator, Giancarlo Giammetti. Archbishop Sangalli led a moment of prayer and blessed the coffin. Monsignor Bertocchi will represent the Dicastery at the funeral Mass, which will be celebrated on Friday, 23 January, at 11:00 a.m. at the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri in Rome.
Valentino Ludovico Clemente Garavani, known as Valentino, was born in Voghera on 11 May 1932 and was a key figure in high fashion and “Made in Italy”. At the age of seventeen, he moved to Paris, where he studied at the prestigious École de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne and began working with some of the big names in French fashion. In 1959, he presented his first collection in Rome, where he founded his fashion house. 1962 marked the official start of Valentino Garavani’s long and successful career. He presented his collection at Pitti Moda in Florence, where it was received with enthusiasm.
A world-renowned fashion designer, Valentino has dressed celebrities and contributed to the success of Italian fashion in the post-war period. With boutiques in cities such as New York, Paris and Tokyo, he has received numerous awards and has enjoyed artistic collaborations of the highest level, including collaboration with Andy Warhol, who dedicated a portrait to him.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.