Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani, best known as Valentino, is an Italian fashion designer and founder of the Valentino SpA brand and company. His main lines include Valentino, Valentino Garavani, Valentino Roma, and R.E.D. Valentino.

He became interested in fashion while in primary school when he apprenticed under his aunt Rosa and local designer Ernestina Salvadeo. Valentino then moved to Paris to pursue this interest. There he studied at the École des Beaux-Arts and at the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne.

His first choice for an apprenticeship, in Paris, was Jacques Fath, then Balenciaga. He found an apprenticeship with Jean Dessès where he helped Countess Jacqueline de Ribes sketch her dress ideas. He then joined Guy Laroche for two years. In 1960 Valentino left Paris and opened a fashion house in Rome.

More than 25 fragrances have been offered by the Valentino company for a number of years, first in partnership with Procter and Gamble, and as of 2010, with Puig.