Laura Biagiotti

Italian Cashmere Aficionado

Laura Biagiotti got her start in the fashion industry by helping out at her mother's dressmaking business. Laura enjoyed her job but soon grew restless doing work for other designers and wanted to create fashions with her own name. Her big break came in 1965 when a deal was made between herself and experienced designer, Angelo Tarlazzi, to produce a line of ready-to-wear clothes for women.

First shown in 1972, Biagiotti's line was successful right away. Soon after she took over a cashmere company called MacPherson, and began creating new garments from the yarn. This earned her the name "Queen of Cashmere" in the fashion world.

_{From the Runway with Laura Biagiotti}

Biagiotti is known for trying on her own creations and not being satisfied until she knows every single piece of clothing is practical and comfortable for the women who will be buying her clothes. She often instructs the people who work on her team to try them on as well. This also goes for her men's line- Laura Biagiotti Uomo which was launched in 1987. But her clothing lines don't stop there. Biagiotti has a line for women's sizes larger than 14 called "Laura-Piu" and a children's line as well, "Laura Biagiotti Junior." It is interesting to note that every woman's Biagiotti collection features a series of comfortable, relaxed "baby doll" dresses, and pants more often than not, that have elastic waistbands.

Among her illustrious accomplishments, Biagiotti was the first Italian designer to present a collection in the People's Republic of China in April 1988. Biagiotti coordinated the first ever fashion show held in the halls of the Kremlin in February 1995. She did so at the invitation of the Russian government and it was a smashing success. This led to the establishment of a Biagiotti boutique opening in Moscow in 1994. Its popularity has grown by leaps and bounds since then.

Biagiotti has expanded her line to include sunglasses which have become world renowned for their distinctive styles and shapes. It is not uncommon to see Biagiotti sunglasses worn by famous people- many movie stars and members of the royal families are particularly fond of them.

By Anika Logan