Sizzling colour, feminine shapes and wild flowers are the signatures of Ungaro. Born in 1933, in Aix-en-Provence into a family of seven children of an emigrated Italian tailor, Emanuel Ungaro started learning to use a sewing machine at the tender age of five. In 1958, at the age of 25 he fulfilled a dream by entering into service with the House of Balenciaga, where he stayed 6 for years. Together with André Courrèges, Emanuel Ungaro becomes one of Balenciaga's disciples, who was also the mentor of Hubert de Givenchy. Balenciaga who founded his couture house in 1937 is the 'couturier of the couturiers'. Chanel once said of Balenciaga that of all twentieth-century designers, the only one who could create a garment from the beginning to end was Balenciaga. Ungaro seems to have followed in his steps. When Ungaro becomes the director of Balenciaga's studio in Madrid, he dresses the Spanish royal family and other members of the Spanish aristocracy. 
 

©  Ungaro Haute Couture Spring-Summer  2001 © Photo by Mario Sorrenti

©  Ungaro Haute Couture Spring-Summer  2001 © Photo by Mario Sorrenti

©  Ungaro Haute Couture Spring-Summer  2001 © Photo by Mario Sorrenti

In 1961, Ungaro joins Courrèges who had opened his own couture house in 1961. Four years later in 1965, Ungaro founds his own couture house in Paris. According to Christine Orban in her book 'Emanuel Ungaro' (Hyperlink) his early clients include Mrs. Onassis, Mrs. Niarchos, l'Oréal's Mrs. Bettencourt and Ms. Marie-Hélène de Rothschild. In the last 35 years Ungaro has clothed many famous women such as Catherine Deneuve in 1975 in Jean-Paul Rappenau's film 'Le Sauvage' (the savage), in 1982 Isabelle Adjani in Claude Miller's film 'Mortelle Randonnée' (Fatal Journey), Anouk Aimée in 1984 in Jerzy Skolimowki's 'Success is the Best Revenge' and in 1986 Claude Lelouch's 'Vingt ans déjà' (Twenty years already) as well as Sharon Stone in Albert Brook's film 'The Muse' in 1998. Ungaro also made the floral wedding dress for Raine Spencer, stepmother to Diana Princess of Wales, for her marriage to the Count de Cambrun. Timeless French chic and refinement is Ungaro's trademark. 

Address for Haute Couture Clients (by appointment only): Emanuel Ungaro, No 2 avenue Montaigne, 75008 Paris, Phone: 0033-1- 53.57.00.00, Fax: 0033-1-53.57.00.08, Website: Ungaro has no website yet.