Every fashion house has its mascot, and at Valentino, the panther reigns supreme. The feline first appeared as a motif seven years into the brand’s existence when Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti unveiled their Fall/Winter 1967 couture. The sleek panther graphic—bared teeth and all—appeared on a suite of flowy, jewel-toned gowns and tunics that quickly became staples of a fashion world that was shedding its postwar rigidity.
Decades later, the jungle cat reemerges from the brush on the Valentino Garavani Panthea bag. Twin feline heads, delineated by an antique gold finish and set with Swarovski crystals, anchor the design from strap to strap. Chevron-style nappa leathers—in matte and waxed finishes, or ostrich and python—give the accessory a so-passé-it’s-great-again touch.
The Panthea has now made two appearances: first for its debut during the Fall/Winter 2025 season in Alessandro Michele’s sophomore show, Le Méta-Théâtre Des Intimités, and next for the Cruise 2026 offering. Already, its variations have been spotted under the arms of Lily Allen, Lana Del Rey, and Lila Moss. Every It girl needs a big cat.
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