Giambattista Valli is taking back control of his Paris-based fashion house, WWD has learned.
The Italian fashion designer has reached an agreement to acquire full ownership from Artémis, the private investment arm of the billionaire Pinault family that took an initial minority stake in his brand in 2017, assuming majority control in 2021.
Financial terms were not disclosed, but a joint release said the agreement was “reached in a spirit of mutual respect and responsibility” and “marks the beginning of a new chapter” for the 59-year-old designer.
You May Also Like
“This agreement now enables me to fully regain control of my brand and to pursue its development with enthusiasm and energy,” Valli said in a brief statement shared exclusively with WWD. “I would like to thank Artémis for its support and commitment to the maison throughout all these years.”
The statement said Artémis helped to “structure the maison, expand its collections and strengthen its international presence.”
Commenting on the transaction, François-Henri Pinault, chairman of Artémis, said his family office has been “delighted to support Mr. Giambattista Valli and to stand behind such a singular and demanding creative vision.
“After years of an inspiring collaboration, a new chapter is now opening in this entrepreneurial adventure, and I wish Giambattista every success in the next stage of his journey,” added Pinault, who frequently sat front row at Valli’s fashion shows with his wife Salma Hayek, an ardent fan of his designs.
Artémis has been quietly exploring a sale of Giambattista Valli in recent months, the process led by banking firm Rothschild & Co., as reported.
Amid that process, Valli cancelled his haute couture show last January, and did not present a fall 2026 ready-to-wear collection during Paris Fashion Week in March.
At the time of the couture cancellation, Artémis told WWD the house was “currently engaged in a thorough reflection on the organization of its activities in order to ensure their long-term sustainability.”
In the interim, the company and sample-sale specialists Arlettie hosted several “friends and family” sales to clear out old inventory.
Founded in 1992 by François Pinault, Artémis also holds investments in such varied companies as Puma, Courrèges, Christie’s, CAA, Breizh Café, French cruise ship operator Ponant and the publications Le Point and Point de Vue. The company has also been looking to dispose of its stake in Puma.
Born in Rome, Valli launched his signature brand in Paris in 2005 after spending seven years designing ready-to-wear at the elbow of Emanuel Ungaro. Before that, his résumé included stints at Roberto Capucci, Fendi and Krizia in Italy.
Once on his own, he quickly attracted attention from a young band of stylish women including Diane Kruger, Bianca Brandolini, Charlotte Dellal, Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece and Lauren Santo Domingo, known informally as the Valli girls.
Among other famous women who have worn his designs on the red carpet are Ariana Grande, Kendall Jenner, Kerry Washington, Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna and Fan Bingbing.
In 2011, he took the plunge into haute couture and showed initially as a guest member. He was granted the official haute couture appellation by the end of the year and Charlotte Casiraghi wore a Giambattista Valli haute couture gown to the wedding of Prince Albert II of Monaco that year, days before the first show.
His long fashion resume also includes an eventful stint as creative director of Moncler’s Gamme Rouge line from 2008 until 2017, where he turned out such fancy athletic wear as tulle bombers, robe-like windbreakers and dressy women’s puffer jackets.
At his signature label, Valli is synonymous with feminine daywear with a Parisian accent, and grandiose eveningwear in draped chiffon and layered tulle.
When Artémis and Valli first came together in 2017, they said they shared “the same passion for art, freedom of expression and creativity.”
In 2020, amidst the coronavirus pandemic, Valli and Artémis brought in Louis Vuitton leather goods executive Charlotte Werner as chief executive officer.
Werner spent three years in the role, boasting on her LinkedIn page that she grew its geographic and product footprint, built and scaled up its online presence, and brought the business into a growth trajectory.
The same year, Valli moved his company into spacious new headquarters a stone’s throw from the Opéra Garnier.
A successor to Werner was never named.
In recent years, Valli made waves with his annual bridal capsule, dubbed the Love Collection and sold via trunk shows.
Last year, Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week handed Valli its 2025 Industry Impact Award, which recognizes significant contributions to the bridal sector.
He has dressed many famous women for their nuptials, including Amal Clooney, Jessica Biel, Tatiana de Pahlen, Selby Drummond and Noor Fares.
During a ceremony during Paris Couture Week in July 2025, Valli was decorated as an Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters. The merit system was established in 1957 to recognize artists and writers, as well as others who have contributed significantly to the arts in France.
