Founded in 1960 by Walter and Mariella Burani, it became a public company listed on the stock exchanges of Milan and London.

In 1960 Walter and his wife Mariella founded the company with the purpose of the production and distribution of children's clothing.

After the rise of prêt-à-porter for women in the 1970s, the company began to export abroad in the 1980s, and expanded into other lines of clothing, as well as by opening stores.

[6] On 31 August the Italian Stock Exchange announced that Mariella Burani FG ordinary shares were suspended from trading indefinitely.

[7] On 11 February, the Court of Milan declared the failure of Burani Designer Holding, Diego Moscato was appointed as liquidator and on 26 Feb he resigned the entire board of directors[8] On 28 July 2010, the financial police of Reggio Emilia arrested Walter Burani and his son John on charges of fraudulent bankruptcy.