The storied house of Valentino wouldn't be what it is today without Valentino Garavani -- but Valentino also owes its success to a second figure: Giancarlo Giammetti, Garavani's business partner and honorary president of Valentino.

In the eight-minute video above, Giammetti explains how he turned Valentino into a brand that wasn't merely glamorous, but also made money. He also gets a little personal, telling the sweet story of how he met Garavani and how their relationship has evolved in the many years since.

This month, Giammetti is celebrating the publication of a new tome, Private: Giancarlo Giammetti, filled with in-depth interviews and personal journal entries. As part of his NYC promotional tour, he took the stage at Parsons for a conversation with Simon Collins. We'll have more on that soon.