Walter Chiapponi was born on May 8, 1978, in Milan. His innate creative instinct and love of art marked his path from an early age, leading him to choose artistic studies, with a preference for the figurative and plastic arts, culminating in his arrival at the European Institute of Design.

Meeting his fashion design teacher, Alessandro dell’Acqua, marked his fashion debut in the late 1990s, as well as his first collaboration with the Neapolitan designer. In 2001, his new role as Creative Director at Blumarine earned him the opportunity to be called to Paris as first assistant to Riccardo Tisci, at the helm of Givenchy's ateliers, straddling ready-to- wear and couture.

He returned to Italy in 2007 for prestigious international fashion houses, from Valentino with Alessandra Facchinetti to Gucci with Frida Giannini and Miu Miu with Miuccia Prada. Finally, in 2016, he took over as Creative Director of Bottega Veneta, first with Tomas Maier and then with Daniel Lee.