Few dare to step in the ring with legendary Mike Tyson; however, few don’t include Roberto Cavalli’s newest creative consultant, Fausto Puglisi. For his first-ever menswear collection since being appointed in October 2020, the Sicilian designer made a punch by enlisting renowned boxer Mike Tyson for his debut menswear campaign.
“Tyson may not be your regular perfect hero, but he is a man who fell and got up more than once in his life.” says Puglisi in a statement shared with GRAZIA. “The chance of having him in the campaign for my first menswear collection for Cavalli excited me not only because he is an icon and someone I have always admired for his style and imagery, but I also think working with him sparks healthy controversy and conversation.”
The Spring-Summer 2022 menswear collection marks Puglisi’s vision of a diverse, bold, and iconic Cavalli family. The collection also explores modern masculinity. Puglisi takes a flamboyant twist on the classic Roberto Cavalli aesthetic by taking inspiration from the king of PopArt, Andy Warhol. Puglisi’s era of Roberto Cavalli isn’t your father’s Cavalli; the label was once synonymous with a mature man dressing, is now out to intrigue a younger generation.
Boxing bandages are given the fashionable upgrade wrapped around the body, boots, gladiator sandals, robes, and maxi elastic waistbands to allude to moments in the boxing ring. The collection also boasts muscle-fitting crop tops, bold animal prints (most likely a nod to Tyson’s former tiger companions) that Carole Baskin would sure to approve and embellished leather jackets. The designs also nod to classic Cavalli with denim as a protagonist in the collection (a staple of the brand in its conception) and inspiration from Roberto Cavalli’s iconic 2005 Serpentine fragrance.
“Mike Tyson is one of the last living pop icons, and beyond being a boxing champion, he is also a stylish man, with a very personal and eccentric taste,” Puglisi adds, “but more than the undisputed boxing champion and American icon, his personal story is also a tale of survival, struggle, and resilience. He embodies America in both the American Dream and all the possibilities it holds, but also it’s reverse.”
Watch the confident, daring, enigmatic Cavalli’s men take the ring to fight against conventions in a free-spirited celebration of self-expression in Puglisi’s debut menswear campaign ahead.
