After being discovered in Italy at a young age for her talent in fashion design Valentina Perissi landed a job for the next ten years working on designs for the iconic fashion house Roberto Cavalli. Her talent was recognized by US designers which landed her a job in New York City with Kimora Lee Simmons on her brands KLS and Baby Phat.
Over the past twelve years, Perissi has worked with brands and designers including Kimora Lee Simmons, Ramy Brook, Jessica Simpson, Patricia Field for Art Basel Miami, and Roc Nation. This led her to start her own fashion management company to help young brands scale and expand, Valentina states, “After years working with established fashion houses, I founded Perissi Management to help young brands grow and establish their presence in the industry. I assist with everything from designs and sales to brand management and merchandising. For all my clients, I emphasize the importance of creativity and connection. I encourage them to host trunk shows, pop-ups, and events that resonate with their audiences. Sharing their personal stories helps customers feel like they’re buying into a vision and a story, not just a product.”
Along with a thriving company contributing the the growth of the US fashion scene, Perissi has taken all her learnings such as print techniques from Roberto Cavalli to creating a line from scratch at Roc Nation leading her to create her own line DAFNE Italy. Named after Perissi’s middle name, it focuses on wearable art. “I’ve always wanted to create something unique. The fashion industry can feel saturated, so I decided to blend my two passions: art and fashion. My collection, “Art That You Can Wear”, features hand-painted leather jackets, bags, jewelry and clothing, all made in Italy,” Persissi shared. “My goal is to design pieces that make people feel powerful and invincible like modern-day wizards wearing their armor. Many celebrities and business leaders wear my creations also because they are customizable, one of that kind while using high-quality materials.”
Perissi credits her own entrepreneurial tenacity from a young age when telling the story of how she landed the internship at Cavalli as a freshman in college, “I was in my first year of college and working for Roberto Cavalli was a dream because he was in my hometown, Florence, creating these artsy, groundbreaking collections. I was already designing for Cavalli in my head and building a portfolio inspired by his work as I’ve always been entrepreneurial. At that time, I was designing accessories with feathers and Swarovski crystals for myself. One night, I went to a big fashion party wearing my creations. Two people approached me, saying: “We love your stuff, where did you buy it?” when I said, “I made it” they immediately invited me to meet with their company. That company turned out to be Roberto Cavalli. I started as one of 15 interns, with only two spots available for full-time positions. After six months I got my job and stayed for ten years, eventually becoming a creative director” Perissi said.
New York City has always had a special place in Perissi’s heart as the city left a permanent impression on her when she’d visit as a child. “The city had such an impression that I promised myself I’d live here one day. My career brought me to the U.S. when I started working with Kimora Lee Simmons on her brands KLS and Baby Phat. But it was my love for this city that made me stay,” she shared. “A full-circle moment was also when Sex and the City aired, and Patricia Field styled the show. My designs for Roberto Cavalli were often worn by characters like Carrie and Samantha, which made me realize how my work connected Italian fashion with the art of NY culture.”