Emilio Pucci was born in Florence, Italy in 1914. He was one of the great Italian contributors to the success of Italian post-war design and is renowned for his fine silk clothes.  His colors and glamorous, swirling prints were based on shades of fuchsia, turquoise, ultramarine, sea-green, and lemon-yellow. Emilio Pucci utilized revolutionary stretch fabrics, such as Lycra, a synthetic fiber invented by Du Pont.

Pucci is credited with the invention of “Capri” pants. The first Pucci shop was established in Capri in 1949.  His clothing highlighted the fabric and pattern – usually bold prints in swirling abstract patterns and acidic colors.  Emilio Pucci also designed ski wear using stretch fabric. His work was published in a special feature in Harper’s Bazaar in 1948.

Pucci passed away in Florence in 1992. An exhibition of Pucci’s work was featured at the 1996 Florence Biennale.  Pucci original scarves and other clothing items have acquired cult status among collectors.

In 2000 Moet Hennessy-Louis Vuitton (LVMH) acquired interest in the company and appointed Julio Espada as designer and Christian Lacroix was appointed creative director in 2003.  The Pucci website was one of the first ones to be lauded for its effectiveness in e-marketing. Today, Pucci fashions are sold through Emilio Pucci and Rossignol boutiques worldwide and in high-end department stores.