1965: Emanuel Ungaro, who trained at the house of Cristóbal Balenciaga, opens his fashion house in Paris.
1968: Ungaro launches ready-to-wear and opens a store at 2 Avenue Montaigne in Paris.
This story first appeared in the May 26, 2010 issue of WWD. Subscribe Today.
1969: Ungaro wins the Neiman Marcus Award.
1973: The house introduces men’s wear.
1980: Ungaro wins Golden Thimble award for haute couture.
1983: Diva, the first perfume, is launched.
1996: Salvatore Ferragamo buys Ungaro.
2001: Ungaro shows his last ready-to-wear collection, handing over the reins to Giambattista Valli, but continues to design haute couture.
2004: Ungaro retires and Valli leaves to found his own brand. Vincent Darré succeeds Valli as creative director.
2005: Ferragamo sells the company to San Francisco-based Internet entrepreneur Asim Abdullah.
2006: Peter Dundas succeeds Darré as creative director. Mounir Moufarrige is named president and chief executive officer.
2007: Esteban Cortazar replaces Dundas as creative director.
2008: Ungaro partners with Avon to launch U by Ungaro for Her and U by Ungaro for Him. Reese Witherspoon appears in ads for the women’s scent.
2009: The company parts ways with Cortazar over his refusal to work with a celebrity face. Little-known designer Estrella Archs is paired with “artistic adviser” Lindsay Lohan in a bid to kick-start the brand. Moufarrige resigns and Ungaro names Marie Fournier as new general manager.
2010: Ungaro severs ties with Lohan, Archs and men’s wear designer Franck Boclet. Giles Deacon is appointed creative director.
