Giancarlo Giammetti (born 5 February 1942) is an Italian businessman, known for his professional and personal association with Valentino Garavani. He is the founder with Valentino Garavani of the Valentino fashion house. He is the Honour President of Valentino. In 2006, he was inducted in the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame. [1]
Giancarlo Giammetti was born in Rome in 1942. He attended liceo classico at the Collegio San Gabriele in Rome and studied at a local faculty of architecture. [2]
He met Valentino Garavani in 1960, when he was 18 and Valentino 28, and the two created the fashion company Valentino that same year. [2] [3] In 1989, he created with Valentino the Valentino Academy, a cultural and art exhibition space located near Valentino's atelier in Rome. [4] In 1998, the Valentino brand was sold to the Italian conglomerate Holding di Partecipazioni (HdP) for $300 million, [5] and, in 2002, to the Marzotto group for $210 million. [6] [7] Giammetti eventually left the Valentino group in 2007 after its acquisition by British private equity group Permira, as the structure had evolved into a corporate giant and he felt his days were over. [7]
In 2013, Assouline Publishing published Private: Giancarlo Giammetti a collection of photos "culled" from 57,000 personal pictures Giammetti had catalogued over the years. [8] A party was hosted in Milan by Italian Vogue editor Franca Sozzani to celebrate the book's release, which was attended by Anna Wintour, Georgia May Jagger, Joan Smalls, Olivia Palermo. [9]
He and Garavani created the Valentino Garavani Foundation in 2017 to focus on Valentino's archives and philanthropic affairs. [7] In 2021, he put up for sale, at Christie's, Jean-Michel Basquiat's In any case (1983) for $50 million, which he had purchased in 2007 from the Gagosian. [10]
The relationship between Valentino and Giammetti and the events leading to their retirement and up the party in Rome, and the party itself, are covered in the 2008 film Valentino: The Last Emperor . [11]
Jean-Michel Basquiat was an American artist who rose to success during the 1980s as part of the Neo-expressionism movement.
Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani, known mononymously as Valentino, is an Italian fashion designer, the founder of the Valentino brand and company. His main lines include Valentino, Valentino Garavani, Valentino Roma, and R.E.D. Valentino.
Gianfranco Ferré was an Italian fashion designer also known as "the architect of fashion" for his background and his original attitude toward creating fashion design.
Valentino S.p.A. is an Italian luxury fashion house founded in 1960 by Valentino Garavani and part of the Valentino Fashion Group. From April 2024, the creative director is Alessandro Michele. The company has its registered office in Milan, while the creative direction and the Valentino Foundation are based in Rome, at Palazzo Gabrielli-Mignanelli. Its cosmetic line, Valentino Beauty license is owned by L'Oreal Group.
Valentino: The Last Emperor is a 2008 documentary film about the life of Valentino Garavani. It was produced and directed by Matt Tyrnauer, Special Correspondent for Vanity Fair magazine. The film is an exploration of the singular world of one of Italy's most famous men, Valentino Garavani. The film documents the dramatic closing act of Valentino's career, tells the story of his life, and explores the larger themes affecting the fashion business. At the heart of the film is the relationship between Valentino and his business partner and companion of 50 years, Giancarlo Giammetti.
Lorenzo "Renzo" Mongiardino was an Italian architect, interior designer, and production designer. He was nominated for two Academy Awards in the category Best Art Direction.
Assouline Publishing is a book publisher and luxury lifestyle company founded in 1994 by Prosper and Martine Assouline. It has published more than 1,700 titles on subjects including architecture, art, design, fashion, gastronomy, lifestyle, photography, and travel. Beginning in the 2010s the company has branched out to designing, producing, and selling furniture, accessories, and luxury gifts, and to creating bespoke furnished and accessorized libraries for individuals and hotels.
Sarah Jane Burton is an English fashion designer. She worked at the Alexander McQueen fashion house from 1997 through 2023, spending her last 13 years at the company as its creative director. She is currently the creative director of Givenchy.
Palazzo Gabrielli-Mignanelli is a late-Renaissance palace in Rome, Italy, overlooking Piazza Mignanelli and Piazza di Spagna.
Patrick Charles Kinmonth is an Anglo-Irish opera director and designer, filmmaker, writer, painter, interior designer, art editor, creative director and curator. He is known for his many stage, costume, interior and architectural designs. Kinmonth works principally as an opera director, and has been awarded for his work as exhibition curator and designer.
Ernest Simoni Troshani is an Albanian cardinal of the Catholic Church.
Marina Schiano was an Italian fashion model, muse, fashion stylist, journalist, photographer and a jewelry designer.
La Hara is a painting created by American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat in 1981. The artwork, which depicts a skeletal police officer, sold for $35 million at Christie's in May 2017.
El Gran Espectaculo (The Nile) also known as Untitled (History of the Black People), is a painting created by American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat in 1983. The artwork references Ancient Egypt and Southern United States culture to critique the Western society's understanding of history and its forgetfulness towards slavery.
The Field Next to the Other Road is a 1981 painting created by American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. It sold for $37.1 million at Christie's in May 2015.
In This Case is a 1983 painting created by American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat in 1983. The artwork, which depicts a skull, is among the most expensive paintings ever purchased. In May 2021, it sold for $93.1 million at Christie's New York, the second highest auction record by Basquiat.
Untitled (One Eyed Man or Xerox Face) is a painting created by American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat in 1982. In May 2021, it sold for $30.2 million at Christie's in Hong Kong.
Pierpaolo Piccioli is an Italian fashion designer, and was the creative director of Valentino from 2008 to 2024, jointly with Maria Grazia Chiuri from 2008 to 2016.