Columbus Day: Roberto Cavalli to be Grand Marshall

The Italian love of all things beautiful will be represented at the annual parade dedicated by New York next October 13 to Christopher Columbus. And the 'Grand Marshall' leading the parade along Fifth Avenue will be none other than Roberto Cavalli, the Italian stylist who has conquered America.
'Just the association of my name with that of Columbus fills me with emotion and confusion', Cavalli said at a meeting with the press at the New York office of the Columbus Citizens Foundation, the Italo-American organization which promotes the parade, now in its 59th year.

In the space of only a few years, the Florentine stylist, whose eyewear lines are produced by Marcolin, has gained a role at the forefront of the difficult US market, also thanks to important personalities like Jennifer Lopez or Britney Spears, who have worn his garments and have been immortalized on the covers of the most prestigious magazines.

'Representing Italy here is the biggest thing that could ever happen to me', added Cavalli who'll be joined at the procession by guest of honor, Antonio Martino, Minister for Defense.

Other representatives of Italy will be the 80 members of the Italian Navy band, Ducati motorbikes and some items from the Italian Airforce: the Savoia-Marchetti planes acquired by the New York Police Department in 1930, and some examples of Agusta helicopters.