Ferdinando Sarmi New York – A Journey in Fashion from Florence to Fifth Avenue

From June 18 to December 31, 2026, the Museo della Moda e del Costume  will host the exhibition “Ferdinando Sarmi New York – A Journey in Fashion from Florence to Fifth Avenue,” dedicated to the designer Ferdinando Sarmi.

Ferdinando Sarmi, born in Ravenna into an Italian noble family, began his international career in 1951 by taking part in the historic fashion show organized by Giovanni Battista Giorgini in Florence, an event symbolizing the birth of Made in Italy. Noticed by Elizabeth Arden, he moved to New York to lead the fashion line of her brand. In 1958, he founded Sarmi New York, becoming one of the leading figures of American haute couture. He dressed icons such as Marlene Dietrich, Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, and Pat Nixon, also gaining recognition from the international press.

The exhibition dedicated to him traces his career from the 1950s to the early 1970s, highlighting his ability to merge Italian sartorial elegance with the glamour of American society.

Curated by Vanessa Gavioli and Eugenia Paulicelli, the exhibition stems from research on Sarmi and is connected to the documentary “Ferdinando Sarmi – Untold Stories of New York Fashion,” premiered on June 18, 2026, at the Museum of Fashion and Costume.