John Varvatos signs creative collaboration with textile manufacturer Riopele

John Varvatos, the renowned American fashion designer, and Riopele, one of Europe’s leading textile manufacturers, have joined forces in a creative collaboration to develop a menswear fabric collection inspired by textile heritage, craftsmanship, and vintage aesthetics. The collection will be presented in July at Milano Unica, as Riopele prepares to celebrate its 100-year anniversary.

Recognized as one of the leading figures in contemporary menswear, John Varvatos has built a career defined by the reinvention of men’s tailoring and the fusion of heritage, rock culture, and contemporary sophistication. Throughout his career, he led design with brands such as Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein, before launching his eponymous label in 2000.

In true John Varvatos fashion, the collaboration reimagines the traditional textile presentation model by going far beyond the standard swatches and sample books. Varvatos has introduced a fully realized wardrobe concept across different garments and product categories—an exceptionally forward-thinking and unconventional approach within the fabric industry. The collection reflects a cohesive creative vision in which fabrics are designed to complement one another. This innovative approach reflects Varvatos’ signature creativity: pushing beyond convention to create a more immersive, intuitive, and commercially relevant experience for today’s global retail market.

“The idea behind this collection comes from the belief that you need to respect the past in order to move forward. At Riopele, I found a rare combination of craftsmanship, vintage inspiration, and innovation, to translate into fabrics with texture and character that are also lightweight, performance-driven, and easy-care,” says John Varvatos.

For Riopele, this strategic partnership reinforces the company’s positioning in international markets, particularly in North America, projecting “Made in Portugal” production while strengthening Riopele’s reputation as a trusted partner in the textile industry, recognized for its quality, innovation, transparency, and the strength of 100 years of expertise.

The collaboration also reflects a long-standing relationship between the designer and the company: “I’ve worked with Riopele from the other side of the table for almost 30 years and have always seen it as an extraordinarily innovative company — in design, fabrics, and the way it combines tradition with a contemporary vision of the industry. Very few companies are able to bring together heritage, performance, sustainability, and creativity in the way Riopele does,” adds John Varvatos.

According to Massimo Cedraschi, Director of Operations for North America: “Collaborating with John Varvatos is the ultimate package because he brings the rare perspective of both a creator and a buyer. He understands how to build product with authentic design integrity, while also knowing exactly what resonates in the marketplace.”

Founded in 1927, Riopele currently exports more than 98% of its production to over 50 countries and stands out for its vertical integration, encompassing areas such as design, R&D, spinning, weaving, dyeing, finishing, and garment manufacturing.