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ShareMumbai: Tommaso Cavalli's name may not have the same effect as Roberto Cavalli's, but then as his son, Tommaso is clear about there being no comparison between him and his father.
"I never considered becoming a designer. When I graduated out of college about 20 years ago, my father wasn't as famous as he is today. So there was not much room for a person like me and in any case, I can never be as creatively inclined as he is," he says.
Roberto is a big source of inspiration for Tommaso. "There's so much I have learnt from him. He is a powerhouse of talent. After establishing himself as a fashion designer, he was asked by a liquor company to design their bottles. After doing that, the idea of selling our signature vodka and wine struck him. And that's when I stepped into the picture. Today I take care of the distribution and marketing," says Tommaso, who loves spending time with his family and breeding horses when he's not busy promoting the liquor line.
So ask him whether he loves vodka more or wine, and he says, "I'd vote for the wine more than the vodka. The former has that home-grown taste of Tuscany which the vodka doesn't. Also, it speaks for the person that I am -- someone who can't do a regular office job sitting within four walls. Initially I used to work for my dad's factory and I didn't enjoy it. Now, my work profile let's me stay in the countryside for most of the time and travel once in a while. I enjoy that," Tommaso says.
And what about his love for fashion? "I do go for my father's fashion shows but I haven't seen every show of his. I do get a lot of people asking me for his show passes though," he laughs.
When asked about his knowledge of Indian fashion and Bollywood, he replies, "To be honest, I don't know about Indian fashion or any Indian designer. But my father loves India; this country has inspired him many times and continues to do so. India is a serious market for us. As far as Bollywood is concerned, what can I say? It was nice meeting the actor (fumbles before being told the name) Amrita (Rao); I don't really know anybody. I just wish I could have stayed back longer to soak in India's rich culture," he ends.
(Turn to page 6 for more)
