Laura Biagiotti
Laura Biagiotti (; 4 August 1943 – 26 May 2017) was an Italian fashion designer, and the founder of the House of Biagiotti. Early life. Biagiotti was born in Rome on 4 August 1943. Her mother Delia Soldaini Biagiotti was a successful dressmaker who designed the uniforms for Alitalia staff in 1964. As a young student, she started to help out at her mother's atelier. While studying archeology at Rome University, Biagiotti abandoned her academic career to focus on fashion design. She worked with her mother for several years during which she met her future husband Gianni Cigna. She  entered into a business partnership with Cigna and opened her first store in Florence. House of Biagiotti. Biagiotti had her first fashion show in 1972. The House of Biagiotti is listed among the largest fashion houses in Italy. Its products include women's wear, men's wear, accessories and watches. Biagiotti moved to Beijing and, in April 1988, was the first Italian designer to present a collection in China. 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. Laura's daughter Lavinia Biagiotti Cigna entered the family business in 1997 and became the company's Vice President in 2005. Private life. 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 with her husband Gianni Cigna until his death in August 1996. Laura Biagiotti was the President  of the Leonardo Committee, composed of prominent Italians in the fields of industry, art and culture, from 2000 to 2008, and became its Honorary President in 2009.