‘Queen of Cashmere’ Laura Biagiotti died in Rome

Italian fashion designer Laura Biagiotti, also known as the Queen of Cashmere, died in a hospital in Rome. According to reports, she suffered a heart attack. The House of Biagiotti (based on Via dei Condotti in Rome) is now listed among the largest fashion houses in Italy. According to her company’s website in 1995 she received an award from the President of Italy for her contributions to fashion and later the Marco Polo award from the Chinese government for promoting fashion in China. She also received the Leonardo Prize in Italy.

The Italian post office issued a 41 Euro cent stamp with her name in 2002. She received the America Award of the Italy-USA Foundation in 2011. From 1980 until her death in 2017 Biagiotti lived and worked in the Roman countryside, in the restored 11th century Marco Simone Castle. She lived there first together with her husband Gianni Cigna, until his death in August 1996.

Biagiotti is the daughter of Delia Soldaini Biagiotti, the founder of a fashion atelier. Laura’s daughter Lavinia Biagiotti Cigna entered the family business in 1997 and became the company’s Vice President in 2005.