Today, the world of fashion wakes to an unbearable hush. As dawn broke and the first rays of sunlight touched the earth, they carried with them heartbreaking news—the passing of Valentino Garavani, the master couturier whose name became eternal through a single, blazing colour: Red.

So profound was his relationship with this hue that red ceased to be merely a colour in haute couture. It became a name, a signature, a legacy—Valentino. One could not speak of red without invoking him, nor speak of Valentino without imagining red in all its fiery, romantic splendor. Every corner of the fashion world knew of his devotion to it, born from a moment in his youth when, at an opera in Barcelona, he noticed a woman dressed in red. That fleeting vision left an indelible mark on his soul.

From that moment onward, red followed him like a lifelong muse. From his earliest creations to his final collection in 2008—where every model walked the runway in red as a poignant farewell—Valentino celebrated this colour in hundreds of shades and interpretations. So iconic was his vision that Pantone officially recognised “Valentino Red,” immortalising it beyond fabric and thread.

Across a career that spanned nearly five decades, Valentino ensured that every creation was a pièce de résistance. His designs adorned some of the most iconic women in the world—Elizabeth Taylor, Julia Roberts, Gwyneth Paltrow, Nancy Reagan, among countless others—each finding elegance, confidence, and beauty through his couture. When he retired in 2008, he left behind not just a brand, but an enduring aesthetic philosophy.

In the years that followed, the Valentino brand changed hands multiple times—from HdP in 1998, to Marzotto SpA in 2002, then to Permira in 2007, and later to the Qatari group Mayhoola—each chapter extending the commercial life of a name rooted in artistry.

Valentino’s journey in India, however, was initially uncertain. His first foray into the market in 2006, through a partnership with Mafatlal Luxury and a boutique at Delhi’s Shangri-La, failed to capture the grandeur and global positioning of the brand. Limited selections, an uninspiring location, and a mismatch in ambience led to a quiet withdrawal. Yet destiny had a second act planned. In 2022, Valentino returned triumphantly when Reliance Brands Ltd reintroduced the maison with flagship stores in Delhi and Mumbai, finally giving the brand the presence it deserved.

The world continues to cherish all that Valentino gave to fashion—and many fondly recall his charming cameo in The Devil Wears Prada, where he greets Miranda Priestly after his Paris show, a moment as elegant and understated as the man himself.

Until his last breath, Valentino stood by his simple yet profound belief:

“I know what women want. They want to be beautiful.”

And indeed, women across the world found beauty in Valentino—timeless, powerful, unforgettable. As the world now faces a future without Valentino Garavani, it isn’t just women who will feel the loss. It is millions of admirers, dreamers, and lovers of fashion who mourn the passing of a legend dressed forever in red.