Roberto Cavalli Sued for Trash-talking Ittierre

Last week, Roberto Cavalli canceled his Just Cavalli runway show and staged an intimate presentation of just twenty outfits in his showroom. He said the production quality of the other half of the collection was sub-par, citing dissatisfaction with Ittierre, the licensing company that produces Just Cavalli and which went into bankruptcy last month. He nearly cried discussing the fate of his younger line and said he wasn't sure if the fall 2009 collection would even be produced. Well, Ittierre is sick of his whining and trash-talking, so they're suing him! They said Cavalli's decision to cancel his show last week was "unilateral" and "unjustified with serious prejudice to Ittierre's image." Going bankrupt is bad enough — you don't need a famous person telling every newspaper in the world you suck.

Cavalli isn't worried about the lawsuit. He called the proceedings "just a political matter," and continued trash-talking Ittierre, kind of making them out to be like that ex you just dumped but who refuses to accept it and calls you all the time, anyway. WWD reports:

“My contract with Ittierre expires in two seasons so I practically already have a foot outside. As far as I am concerned, [the contract] has expired,” Cavalli said on the sidelines of his Roberto Cavalli runway show. “I don’t understand their point of view.”


Allow us to explain, Roberto! The stakes are high for Ittierre, which also operate licenses for Gianfranco Ferré, C’N’C Costume National, and John Galliano. Those shows will go on as planned, but in this uncertain time the company doesn't want to lose any more contracts, especially since Just Cavalli — its most profitable license — is as good as finished.

Cavalli said he tried to end his contract "some months ago," since Ittierre didn't pay him the $25.3 million owed in royalties. Other licensing companies are eager to snatch up the Just Cavalli contract.

Okay, we've resisted long enough: rawr!

Ittierre to Sue Cavalli [WWD]

Read more posts by Amy Odell

Filed Under: bankruptcy, ittierre, lawsuits, roberto cavalli, split seams

Copyright NYMAG - NY Mag
Contact Us