Gai Mattiolo is an Italian fashion designer who got his start at age 19, when his father provided him with the financial backing to open a boutique in Rome. Gai Mattiolo had no formal training as a fashion designer, but his pieces distinguished themselves with their attention to fine detail. In particular, the buttons of his garments, which are crafted of fine materials and often take the form of small sculptures, are a signature element of Mattiolo's style. He carefully researches button design for each new collection. Mattiolo's success with his first collection led him to the catwalks of Paris and Milan, where top models of the 1980s and 1990s demonstrated his unique fashions. His designs are colorful, carefully tailored and feature unusual luxury materials such as platinum threads, precious stone adornments and thousands of tiny gold balls.