Emanuel Ungaro — The Last Grand Couturier
Emanuel Ungaro is a French fashion designer, who founded his first fashion house, Ungaro Uomo in 1973. He launched his first perfume, Diva, in 1983. He later launched perfumes such as Senso in 1987, Ungaro in 1991, Emanuel Ungaro for Men in 1991, Fleur de Diva in 1997, Desnuda in 2001, and Apparation in 2004. In 2008, Avon and Emanuel Ungaro worked together to launch two fragrances, U by Ungaro for Her and U by Ungaro for Him. Ungaro retired in 2005 and sold the label to Asim Abdullah.
After the sale of the Ungaro fashion house, the new company hired Esteban Cortazar, who was fired for not wanting to work with Lindsay Lohan. Lindsay Lohan’s association with the company was met with a very negative reaction, and the relationship was soon dissolved.
From NYMag.com:
“Italian by heritage but born and raised in France, Emanuel Ungaro learned to sew from his father. By his mid-twenties, he was designing at the hallowed house of Balenciaga before moving on to Courrèges. In 1965, he launched his own boutique and label in Paris. Ladies flocked to him for body-skimming silhouettes, and within a few decades the line would come to encompass menswear, accessories, and several fragrances….”
From Vogue UK:
“In 1965 he set up his own couture house and refused to show evening dresses — a couture staple — at his debut show, declaring: “They are not my style. I am a man of this age and I will design for women of this age.”
“He became known for his flamboyant use of pattern and elegant draping, creating pieces with an emphasis on the comfortable and flattering encasement of the female form.”
“Ungaro quickly garnered a high profile celebrity following, including Jacqueline Kennedy and Catherine Deneuve, and the business developed healthily until the early Nineties.”
Emanuel Ungaro In-Depth:
Emanuel Ungaro Quotes:
“I love that kind of wild attitude in creating things. It is very amusing to me that so many people, designers, creators are trying to remake the ’60s. I did (it) at the beginning, just for sort of mockery but gentle mockery…”
“I am able to do normal things, classical if you want.”
