25 Italian Luxury Brands Fashion Girls Need To Know About
Italy is the home to many incredible high-end labels with gorgeous clothes and stunning accessories, which is why we have brought together 25 Italian Luxury Brands you really need to know about.
Italy has a long history of manufacturing high-quality clothing and leather goods, which is why there have been so many luxury brands that have been established over the years. Also, design schools such as Istituto Marangoni, in Milan and Polimoda, in Florence have produced countless Italian designers with incredible brands and innovative designs over the years.
So, if you are looking for the top Italian luxury fashion brands that you really need in your wardrobe, you have come to the right place, as we have created this list of the top 25 Italian luxury brands.
This includes some of the biggest names in the fashion industry that show each season at Milan Fashion Week as well as new Italian labels that you need to know about. So if you are looking to expand your Italian fashion knowledge, or are looking for some new designers and brands to check out, just keep reading!
Top 25 Italian Luxury Brands
1. Gucci
Get this on Gucci
Gucci is one of the top Italian designer brands with beautiful and chic ready-to-wear collections and accessories launched each season.
Guccio Gucci founded his eponymous brand in Florence in 1921, first beginning as a luxury luggage brand before clothing was added to the brand. If you love quirky, eye-catching clothes, then Gucci is the brand for you – as the previous creative director, Alessandro Michele became known for fun, geek-chic pieces.
Gucci also offers numerous irresistible handbags, with everything from trend-led pieces, like the Ophidia GG small handbag, to timeless classic bags so there is something for everyone.
2. Prada
Get this on Prada
Prada is currently one of the most popular fashion houses in the fashion industry, consistently releasing stylish and sophisticated collections that are super wearable, so if you are looking for some new elegant clothes and accessories, you really need to check out Prada.
This brand was founded by Mario Prada in 1913, creating trunks for traveling and leather bags before the label was taken over by his daughter Luisa. Luisa continued to create leather goods, but it was in 1978 when Luisa’s daughter Miuccia Prada took over that Prada changed dramatically.
Miuccia created nylon totes and backpacks that were, and still are, incredibly popular before launching a ready-to-wear collection in 1988 that was an instant success.
3. Versace
Get this on Neiman Marcus
The bold designer, Gianni Versace, created his namesake luxury Italian brand in 1978 and quickly became known for attention-grabbing clothing with striking prints and daring silhouettes.
Gianni Versace’s popularity caught the attention of royalty and celebrities, with Diana, Princess of Wales, Elton John, and Michael Jackson, all seen in Versace pieces. In 1997, Gianni’s sister Donatella Versace took over the family business and continued her brother’s opulent legacy.
We love this Logo-Print Denim Jacket pictured above, in a gorgeous pale blue color and embellished with gleaming gold Versace buttons, plus there is also a matching skirt available!
4. Valentino Garavani
Get this on Nordstrom
You probably have seen Valentino Garavani pieces all over the red carpet, on celebrities such as Florence Pugh, Anne Hathaway, Sebastian Stan, and Glenn Close, so why don’t you add a luxury Valentino Garavani item to your own wardrobe?
The brand was founded in 1960 by Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti and, over the decades, has become known for incredible silhouettes and bold use of color. Pink is a favorite of the current creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli and was seen all over the 2022 Met Gala red carpet.
There are lots of gorgeous clothes and handbags available from the Valentino Garavani brand, including this chic VLOGO Leather Shoulder Bag.
5. Bottega Veneta
Get this on Nordstrom
Bottega Veneta is best known for creative and playful handbags that are completely unique and totally luxurious.
This fashion house was founded in 1966 and began with collections of luxury leather goods brand crafted by expert Italian craftsmen using the intrecciato technique, which has now become a hallmark of the Bottega brand that never uses brand names on their luxury goods. In the 1990s, the first collection of clothing was launched with great success.
The current creative director Matthieu Blazy has continued the legacy of the previous creative director Daniel Lee, with stunning and individual handbags that are a must-have for any handbag enthusiast.
6. Fendi
Get this on 24s
The Italian fashion label, Fendi, was established in 1925 by Adele and Edoardo Fendi in Rome and has remained a family business ever since.
Like many other Italian labels, Fendi began as a leather goods brand, before Karl Lagerfeld joined the brand in 1965 and created the first Fendi Womenswear collection, which was an instant success with chic and stunning designs, crafted from the highest quality fabrics for a luxe look.
Currently, British designer Kim Jones is the creative director for the haute couture and womenswear collection, while Silvia Venturini Fendi is the artistic director of accessories and menswear – this included relaunching the Fendi Baguette bag and helping to make it cult classic it is seen as today.
7. Marni
Get this on Nordstrom
We love the fun prints and vibrant colors used in Marni clothes and accessories making them totally irresistible and a favorite among many celebrities, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Kyra Sedgewick, and Meryl Streep!
Marni was founded in Milan in 1994 by the Swiss fashion designer Consuelo Castiglioni, who remained as the creative director until 2016 when Francesco Risso took over, although her husband stills acts as the CEO and her daughter runs the online store, so Marni is still very much a family business.
Marni has a full ready-to-wear collection available, as well as bags, shoes, and smaller accessories, all with the same theme of classic silhouettes and bright colors.
8. Giorgio Armani
Get this on Neiman Marcus
Giorgio Armani is currently best known for smart suits, dresses, blouses, and skirts, making it a great high-fashion brand to check out if you are looking for some new workwear.
Giorgio Armani founded his eponymous fashion label in 1975, alongside his partner Sergio Galeotti – the brand began with a menswear collection, before adding womenswear in 1979.
The luxurious clothing, with elegant and sophisticated silhouettes, crafted from high-quality materials has proved particularly popular throughout Europe and the United States. This Off-The-Shoulder Ruched Jersey Midi Dress perfectly shows the beautiful aesthetic of the Giorgio Armani brand.
9. Moncler
Get this on Neiman Marcus
If you are on the hunt for new winter gear or outerwear, then Moncler is the perfect luxury Italian brand for you! This Italian label is world-renowned for their incredibly warm, but still super stylish, coats and jackets – such as the Maire Shiny Puffer Jacket picture above which is a winter wardrobe essential.
Moncler first began creating down jackets to protect workers in the Italian mountain towns but soon expanded to a wider range of customers, still with the same technology to make sure everyone stays warm throughout the cold months.
The brand also now offers, footwear, leather goods, winter accessories, and a ski wear collection to make keeping warm easy!
10. Moschino
Get this on Nordstrom
Franco Moschino founded his namesake brand in 1983 in Milan, with his early collections including lots of bright colors, unusual silhouettes, and eccentric designs, quickly catching the attention of the fashion industry.
The Moschino collections were also a place for Franco to express his criticisms of the fashion industry and societal issues, including the AIDS crisis in the 1980s and the impact fashion production had on the environment, which caught the attention of the press.
Creative director, Jeremy Scott has continued the eye-catching aesthetic of the Moschino brand with his quirky and creative collection, and collaborations with Barbie and McDonalds.
11. Max Mara
Get this on Neiman Marcus
Max Mara is a historic Italian fashion house, founded by Achille Maramotti in 1951, after first starting to design haute couture clothing in 1947.
Maramotti wanted to make luxury clothing more accessible and so made sure the Max Mara collections were produced on a large scale and available to lots of customers.
Many different designers have created collections for Max Mara, including Karl Lagerfeld, and Narciso Rodriguez, but in recent years, the brand has become best known for its stunning coats, namely the iconic 101801 coat designed by Anne Marie Beretta. There are numerous beautiful coats available, including this timeless Belted Long Trench Coat.
12. Brunello Cucinelli
Get this on Neiman Marcus
If you love the quiet luxury trend that is centered around classic, wardrobe staples, with a minimalist look, crafted from luxurious materials, then Brunello Cucinelli is the brand for you.
Brunello Cucinelli founded his eponymous brand in 1978 in Perugia, Italy, and has grown to become a top fashion house with men’s and womenswear collections and gorgeous home wear for the full Italian luxury lifestyle.
We love elegant and sophisticated designs, including the Drawstring-Waist Techno Crispy Maxi Shirtdress and cashmere knitwear that is incredibly high quality.
13. Loro Piana
Get this on Neiman Marcus
The Loro Piana began as wool merchants at the start of the 19th century, before creating a wool mill in the 20th century and founding the Loro Piana brand in 1924, specializing in cashmere knits.
It actually wasn’t until the 1980s that the business began to diversify and Sergio and Pier Luigi Loro Piana added a ready-to-wear collection to the brand.
Still to this day, Loro Piana is best known for sumptuous knitwear and knitted homeware, including plush blankets and cushions. We love the minimalist, paired-back aesthetic of Loro Piana clothing and handbags.
14. Brioni
Get this on Net-A-Porter
The Italian label, Brioni, started as a tailor menswear boutique in Rome, established by Nazareno Fonticoli and Gaetano Savini in 1945.
Brioni quickly became popular because of their use of brighter colors and lightweight fabrics, then rose to fame in 1952 when Brioni held the very first menswear catwalk show in Florence. After gaining notoriety throughout Europe, Brioni staged fashion shows in America in the 1950s and caught the attention of Clark Gable and Cary Grant.
Still to this day, Brioni is best known for exquisite menswear and expertly tailored suits, but there is also a beautiful womenswear collection too.
15. Zegna
Get this on Nordstrom
Zegna is actually one of the oldest Italian designer brands, first founded in 1910 by Ermenegildo Zegna alongside his two brothers in Trivero, Italy, and made use of their father’s looms in his wool mill.
The brothers focussed their attention on high-quality fabrics, taking time to source the best raw materials, beginning with wool from Mongolia, Australia, and South Africa.
In the 1960s, the brand expanded to include suits, ready-to-wear men’s clothing, and then accessories. Zegna is still exclusively a menswear brand, with smart suits and luxe accessories, including this timeless Suede Duffle Bag.
16. Miu Miu
Get this on Miu Miu
Miu Miu is like the little sister brand of Prada, since it was founded by the current creative director of the brand, Miuccia Prada, and has a more youthful, playful aesthetic.
The label was established in the 1990s and is known for classic, chic silhouettes in vibrant colors, and decorated with bright and sparkling embellishments to create eye-catching pieces.
The Miu Miu mini skirts, just like the Gingham check skirt pictured above become super popular in recent years, making them a must-have in any fashion enthusiast’s wardrobe.
17. Pucci
Get this on Net-A-Porter
Pucci was established by the Italian fashion designer, politician, and aristocrat, Emilio Pucci in 1950. Pucci first started designing clothes when he created outfits for his ski team in the 1940s before creating the first one-piece ski suit, which caught the attention of American manufacturers.
Pucci then created a swimwear line in 1949 but soon moved on to brightly colored and highly patterned silk scarves and then womenswear pieces from these patterned silks.
The first catwalk show of a Pucci collection was in 1950 and helped the brand gain popularity. To this day, Pucci is still best known for eye-catching patterned clothing and accessories!
18. Dolce and Gabbana
Get this on Nordstrom
Dolce and Gabbana is a world-renowned brand, recognized for its opulent and bold designs that celebrate the brand’s rich Italian history.
This Italian fashion label was founded by Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana in 1985 and now specializes in ready-to-wear clothing, handbags, shoes, leather goods, eyewear, and cosmetics.
The founder’s Sicilia heritage inspires the prints and embellishments used, while Italian film history is used as inspiration for the ready-to-wear silhouettes. This Mini Devotion Leather Top Handle Bag perfectly shows the striking style of this brand.
19. Etro
Get this on Neiman Marcus
We love the delicate paisley pattern that decorated many Etro pieces, while the colors and silhouettes used make Etro the ideal brand for any occasion or work wear!
Founded by Gerolamo Etro in 1968, Etro began as a textile design company that first focused on the paisley pattern which is still the brand’s signature pattern to this day.
Etro created a furnishing textiles line in 1981, then added leather goods to the collection in 1984 before launching a ready-to-wear collection first show at Milan Fashion Week in 1996. Etro still remains a family business, with Gerolamo Etro’s four children taking on different roles within the brand.
20. Missoni
Get this on Neiman Marcus
Missoni is an iconic Italian fashion house, best known for brightly colored knitwear decorated with striking zig-zag patterns– a motif you will see throughout Missoni’s clothing, accessories, and homeware.
Ottavio and Rosita Missoni founded their fashion label in 1953, starting out with a small knitwear workshop in Gallarate, Italy. Their first collection was presented in Milan and caught the attention of fashion editor, Anna Piaggi and the brand continued to grow throughout Europe.
In the late 1960s, Missoni was championed by Diana Vreeland and soon Missoni reached its peak in the fashion world in the 1970s. Missoni and its vibrant prints are still popular all over the world and are a must-have in the wardrobe of any luxury fashion fan.
21. Roberto Cavalli
Get this on Neiman Marcus
Roberto Cavalli offers clothing, bags, footwear, and accessories, all with the brand’s signature lavish and eye-catching designs. Ever since the brand’s founding in 1975, Roberto Cavalli has used animal prints, luxurious leathers, and glittering embellishments throughout his luxury items.
In the 1970s, Cavalli played around with prints and materials to create unique and innovative pieces that caught the attention of several major designer brands, including Hermes, Pierre Cardin, and Emilio Pucci.
The brand expanded during the late 1980s and 1990s, with the Just Cavalli and Class Cavalli lines launching and quickly becoming popular, just as they are today.
22. Sunnei
Get this on FarFetch
Sunnei is a new Italian designer brand, that not only offers full men’s and womenswear collections but a selection of gorgeous homeware too.
This fresh and youthful brand was established by designers Simone Rizzo and Loris Messina who wanted to focus on the synergy between people, their situations, and the environment, developing a strong aesthetic in the few years the brand has been creating collections.
The Sunnei‘s sports-inspired t-shirts, hoodies, and accessories, as well as the tailored and body-con pieces such as this Tubo stripe-print top, have all proved incredibly popular.
23. Diesel
Get this on FarFetch
If you are looking for high-quality denim in contemporary, sleek designs, then Diesel is the ideal brand for you.
Founded in 1976 by Renzo Rosso and Adriano Goldschmied, Diesel started out as a jeans brand and gained notoriety through their sponsorships, including sponsoring the World Superbike racing circuit, which, although unorthodox, was a fantastic way to bring in plenty of new customers.
Diesel’s proactive campaigns, shot by the likes of David LaChapelle and Rankin, ensured Diesel became a top fashion brand all over the world. The current creative director Glenn Martens has continued the brand’s provocative history through more subtle ways in each of his collections.
24. Palm Angels
Get this on Nordstrom
Palm Angels is a brand that you may not realize is Italian since the collections seek inspiration from the LA skateboarding scene and American streetwear.
The Milan-born art director and fashion photographer, Francesco Ragazzi, started Palm Angels in 2011, first as a book documenting the LA skate culture, before creating clothing in 2015.
Palm Angels combines Italian craftsmanship and high-quality fabrics and leathers with American culture, and subcultures, to create stylish, modern designs that are super popular all over the world. If you’re just getting started in the street style world of Palm Angels, we recommend this chic Crash Logo Leather Crossbody Bag.
25. Stone Island
Get this on FarFetch
Drake, Spike Lee, Jason Statham, The Weeknd, Dua Lipa, and Jack Harlow have all been spotted in Stone Island pieces, easily recognized by the compass logo, so why don’t you add a Stone Island piece to your own wardrobe?
Stone Island was founded by Massimo Osti in 1982 and the label quickly became known for innovative fabrics, making use of a range of dyeing and surface techniques, including thermosensitive fabric which are still often used in Stone Island pieces today.
During the mid-1990s, Stone Island was commonly worn by football fans throughout the UK and Europe, while more recently rappers such as Drake, Jay Z, and Jack Harlow have popularised the brand in hip-hop culture.
We hope you loved this list of Italian luxury brands! For more luxury fashion content, check out the links below.
Get more luxury fashion ideas
18 Best Gucci Bags That Are Just Stunningly Beautiful
The 15 Best Prada Bags To Carry Everywhere This Season