Marquee Brands has finalized a definitive agreement to acquire a majority interest in the iconic Italian fashion house Roberto Cavalli, marking a significant transition for the luxury brand. Executed through a strategic partnership with the Dubai-based Damac Group, the deal positions the Florentine label as the 22nd brand in Marquee’s diverse portfolio. With the transaction anticipated to close in Q2, FY26, Damac Group will retain a substantial minority stake, ensuring continuity as the brand embarks on a new phase of international expansion and operational refinement.
Operational synergy and global scaling
The acquisition signals a shift toward a more centralized, data-driven operating model for the luxury house. Marquee Brands has appointed Milan-based The Level Group as the core operating partner to manage the development, manufacturing, and distribution of menswear and womenswear collections. By integrating this specialized expertise, the company aims to streamline retail, e-commerce, and wholesale operations across Europe and the United States.
This partnership is designed to move beyond traditional fashion cycles, focusing instead on scaling the brand’s lifestyle presence through high-end branded residences and hospitality projects, leveraging Damac’s deep real estate footprint.
Redefining luxury market positioning
This deal serves as a catalyst for Marquee Brands to elevate its total portfolio-wide retail sales to an estimated US$5 billion. For the broader industry, the move underscores a growing trend of brand accelerators acquiring heritage houses to deploy capital-efficient growth strategies.
Roberto Cavalli stands as one of luxury's defining Italian houses, notes Heath Golden, CEO, Marquee Brands. We see extraordinary potential to build on that foundation through thoughtful brand stewardship. By combining Marquee’s proven brand management framework with Damac’s luxury infrastructure, the partnership aims to introduce new product categories and experiential touchpoints that resonate with a global, contemporary consumer base while preserving the house’s signature Italian craftsmanship.
Founded in Florence in 1970, Roberto Cavalli is a premier luxury fashion house celebrated for its bold prints, avant-garde design, and glamorous aesthetic. The brand offers ready-to-wear clothing, accessories, and home decor. Current growth plans emphasize international expansion, lifestyle hospitality projects, and enhanced digital and retail distribution.
