Biography

Emanuel Ungaro (13 February 1933 – 21 December 2019) was a renowned French fashion designer of Italian descent, celebrated for founding the “Ungaro Fashion House”. He started his fashion career under the tutelage of “Balenciaga” before establishing his own label.

Ungaro was born to an Italian tailor who escaped the fascist regime in Italy and settled in France. Inspired by his father, who gifted him a sewing machine in his youth, Ungaro learned the craft of tailoring early on.

At 22, Ungaro moved to Paris and began working for “Maison Camps”, quickly advancing from a cutter to a stylist between 1955 and 1957. He later joined the iconic fashion house of Cristóbal Balenciaga, where he honed his design skills for three years, and then worked for André Courrèges before venturing out on his own.

In the 1960s, Ungaro became associated with the Space Age fashion movement, similar to Paco Rabanne, noted for his minimalist, futuristic designs that often featured geometric shapes and were made from modern materials like synthetics and plastics. His style during this era was characterized by sharp, simple lines and innovative fabrics.

Ungaro launched his first perfume named “Diva” in 1983, a decade after its inception. He gained further acclaim by participating in the historic “The Battle of Versailles” Fashion Show in 1973, and later expanded his fragrance line with several successful launches including “Senso” (1987), “Ungaro” (1991), and “Emanuel Ungaro For Men” (1991).

By 1989, Ungaro’s fashion empire included two haute couture and ready-to-wear lines. He also introduced more accessible collections under the labels “Ter” and “Solo Donna.” His collaboration with Salvatore Ferragamo in 1996 led to the formation of “Emanuel Ungaro Parfums”, partnering with “Bvlgari” to introduce new fragrances like “Fleur de Diva” (1997), “Desnuda” (2001), and “Apparition” (2004).

Ungaro retired in 2005, selling his company to Asim Abdullah for $84 million.

From the designer’s personal life, it’s known that he was married to Laura Bernabei in 1988, and they had a daughter, Cosima Ungaro, whose personal details remain private.

Emanuel Ungaro passed away at the end of 2019, at the age of 86, after battling illness for two years, leaving behind a legacy of innovation and elegance in the world of high fashion.