Manager / From Delia to Laura: 60 years of Biagiotti's female leadership. Meet Lavinia, the heir who keeps the brand (and its identity) strong.

There's a story in Italian fashion that deserves to be told entirely through women. It's the story of the Biagiottis: Delia, Laura, and Lavinia. And today, in an era when dynasties are fraying and brands are being sold off in bundles to investment funds, Lavinia Biagiotti Cigna stands firm, holding together a universe that bears her surname, but also her signature.

It all began in the 1960s with Delia Biagiotti , a refined, pragmatic, and headstrong Roman dressmaker. Orphaned at a young age, she opened an atelier in the heart of Rome and made shirts for the big names of the time: Sorelle Fontana , Emilio Schuberth , Roberto Capucci . But Delia looked beyond. In 1964, she created the first uniforms for Alitalia hostesses, and in 1965, she officially founded the Biagiotti brand. She was a pioneer of high-quality ready-to-wear in Italy. And it was she who encouraged her daughter Laura , a recent archaeology graduate, to pursue fashion.

Laura entered the world of fashion bringing with her a cultured imagination, inspired by classical art and imperial Rome. In 1972, she debuted in Florence with a collection of soft, flowing cuts crafted from cashmere : a material that until then had been associated with feminine elegance. Thus, her distinctive style was born, and the international press crowned her the "Queen of Cashmere." Her style is essential, sophisticated, and reassuring, a far cry from the excess of the 1980s.

But Laura didn't stop at the catwalk. Together with her husband Gianni Cigna, she built an entire ecosystem. She moved the maison's headquarters outside Rome, to the Castello Marco Simone , which also became the home of her daughter Lavinia , born in 1978, who grew up surrounded by sketches, fabric tests, and art exhibitions. Meanwhile, Laura pushed the brand beyond its borders.

She was the first Italian designer to show in China (1988) and then in the Kremlin in Moscow (1995) , long before globalization became a slogan. She created cult fragrances such as "Roma" (1988), dressed Italian women, promoted art restorations and financed culture. She was a patron of the Teatro La Fenice , the Piccolo Teatro in Milan , and the Futurist collection of Giacomo Balla .

Lavinia , immersed in this universe since childhood, joined the company at 18 , in 1996, after her father's death. She truly rose through the ranks: working backstage, in the showroom, in logistics, and in production. She never moved from one department to another. In 2005, she became vice president, working side by side with her mother, bringing a new energy and an increasingly sustainable and contemporary approach to the brand.

Then, in 2017 , the hardest blow: Laura died suddenly, struck by an illness and cardiac arrest. But Lavinia didn't back down. She absorbed the blow, took the helm, and reorganized. She became President and CEO of the Biagiotti Group, relaunching the brand, refusing any sale or transfer. Since then, she has left her mark, her collections don't shout: they are built on white (the house's signature color), Italian cashmere , soft cuts, and caressing silhouettes. But it's in the "how" that the change is evident: the fashion shows move to Rome's iconic locations— the Ara Pacis , the Campidoglio , and the MAXXI.

Lavinia then strengthened its international licenses, relaunched its perfume line (Romamor, Forever, Roma Fiori Bianchi), created eco-responsible capsule collections, and launched glasses made of recyclable bioplastic . But for Lavinia, the company is also a cultural driving force. The Biagiotti Cigna Foundation , which she leads, houses over 200 works by Giacomo Balla , promotes Italian art abroad, and has funded major restorations: from the Scala Cordonata del Campidoglio to the fountains of Piazza Farnese , and even the curtain of the Teatro La Fenice .

And then there's the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club , founded by Laura in 1991. Lavinia is now its president. She completely renovated it, transforming it into an international center. In 2023, it will host the Ryder Cup , the first Italian edition of the world's largest golf tournament.

In addition to fashion, she is vice president of the Musica per Roma Foundation and sits on the board of the National Chamber of Italian Fashion. Her awards include the Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Award , the European Personality Award , and the Patron of Sport Award , to name a few.

Today, sixty years after the brand's birth, there's no nostalgia in the Biagiotti household, but presence. Lavinia carries on her mother's and grandmother's legacy with a sense of continuity, respect for tradition, and an open mind for innovation. Like certain perfumes that don't immediately stand out, but linger in the memory.