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Fortuny

Italian

Spanish fashion designer Mariano Fortuny was a true artist who worked with beautiful fabrics as his medium of choice. Although he showed talent in painting, sculpting, photography and architecture at an early age, fashion was where he really shined.

Fortuny was an innovator in the world of textile design, he drew on classical Greek tunics for his rich and interesting garments and worked with a revolutionary system for creating pleats. He designed a range of clothing for his couture house, and today, vintage Fortuny evening gowns, gemstone-colored day dressescoats and accessories like drawstring bags are known for their fine craftsmanship and signature elegance.

Fortuny was born Mariano Fortuny y Madrazo in 1871 in Granada, into a family of artists. His father died when Fortuny was only three years old, and his mother moved the family to Paris. As a child, Fortuny was fond of experimenting and figuring out how things worked. He even dyed pieces of fabric from his family's textile collection, which had been amassed from shops around Europe.

In 1889, the family moved again, this time to Venice. Here, Fortuny found inspiration in the past, which would influence his future designs. Not long after, the young Fortuny set off to travel the continent. In 1897, he visited Paris and fell in love with a dressmaker named Henriette Negrin. She became his muse, his wife and his creative partner — Negrin worked with Fortuny on clothing designs and fabrics — and the two settled in the French capital.

A lifelong inventor, Fortuny began patenting his creations in 1901. By 1934, he had registered more than 20 patents. At the same time, his fashion career was taking off.

In 1907, he designed the Delphos gown with Negrin, which French novelist and essayist Marcel Proust described as "faithfully antique but markedly original." Fortuny had worked from his home until 1922 when increased demand required large-scale production. He opened a factory in Venice, where due to the scarcity of silk, he began experimenting with cotton. 

In 1927, New York interior designer Elsie McNeill traveled to Paris to meet Fortuny and became his exclusive American distributor. She returned to the United States and introduced Fortuny's designs to New World audiences. Shops opened in Paris, New York and London. Toward the end of the 1930s, Fortuny returned to painting and stepped away from the busy fashion industry.

After Fortuny passed away in 1949, McNeill took over the label and continued running it until 1988, when it was purchased by the Riad family, who remain at the helm of Fortuny today.

On 1stDibs, find vintage Fortuny clothing and accessories.

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Designer: Fortuny
Mariano Fortuny Black Peplos Gown
By Fortuny
Located in New York, NY
This dress is made of finely pleated black colored silk with silk cording along side seams,shoulders and tunic hem with multicolored glass beads threaded through the cording. The...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Mariano Fortuny Black Silk Peplos Gown
By Fortuny
Located in New York, NY
This dress is made of finely pleated black colored silk with silk cording along side seams,shoulders and tunic hem with matte frosted colored glass beads threaded through the cordin...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Mariano Fortuny Black Gauze Stencilled Short Coat
By Fortuny
Located in New York, NY
Fortuny translated the caftan as a loose fitting outer garment, usually made out of silk velvet crepe or gauze the fitted back and open front allowed for elaborate stenciled decorati...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Mariano Fortuny Black Delphos Gown
By Fortuny
Located in New York, NY
This dress is made of finely pleated black colored silk with silk cording along side seams, and multicolored glass beads threaded through the cording. Named after a Greek classi...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Mariano Fortuny Shell Pink Silk Peplos
By Fortuny
Located in New York, NY
This dress is made of finely pleated shell pink colored silk with silk cording along side seams ,shoulders , and tunic hem, and mat frosted colored glass beads threaded through the...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Mariano Fortuny Amythest Delphos Gown
By Fortuny
Located in New York, NY
This dress is made of finely pleated amythest colored silk with silk cording along side seams, and multicolored glass beads threaded through the cording. Named after a Greek cla...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Mariano Fortuny Burgundy Stencilled Crepe Coat
By Fortuny
Located in New York, NY
Fortuny translated the caftan as a loose fitting outer garment, usually made out of silk velvet crepe or gauze the fitted back and open front allowed for elaborate stenciled decorati...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Mariano Fortuny Pink Coral Stencilled Velvet Drawstring Bag
By Fortuny
Located in New York, NY
Fortunys stenciled velvet drawstring bags found a use for small pieces of his precious velvets, their sizes vary due to the dimensions of the cuts.They ...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Mariano Fortuny Pink Coral Stencilled Velvet Long Coat
By Fortuny
Located in New York, NY
Fortunys coats take their inspiration from a myrid of references,renaissance ,persian,arabic .These are often elaborately decorated in historical motifs...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Extremely Rare Mariano Fortuny Cotton Delphos
By Fortuny
Located in New York, NY
This extraordinarily rare dress is made of finely pleated white cotton. Few cotton pleated Fortuny dresses have been documented and survived. Named after a Greek classical sculpt...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Rare Mariano Fortuny Berry Silk Crepe Coat
By Fortuny
Located in New York, NY
This wonderful square cut berry silk crepe Fortuny coat is gilt stencilled in a Bellini pattern. Fortuny's ethereal crepe and gauze garments are extremely...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Mariano Fortuny Aquamarine Gauze Stencilled Coat
By Fortuny
Located in New York, NY
Transparent Fortuny gauze pieces are based on the ancient tunic which was a shirt like garment that became traditional attire in roman times, the copts or christian egyptians...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Mariano Fortuny Rare Black Stencilled Velvet Drawstring Bag
By Fortuny
Located in New York, NY
Fortunys stenciled velvet drawstring bags found a use for small pieces of his precious velvets, their sizes vary due to the dimensions of the cuts.They ...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Mariano Fortuny Pink Stencilled Velvet Persian Style Coat
By Fortuny
Located in New York, NY
this three-quarter length orange-red cut velvet jacket was printed with metallic paints with Venetian glass buttons and silk loop closures at the center front. The hand stenciling...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Mariano Fortuny Gauze Sleevless Coat, Provenance Tina Chow
By Fortuny
Located in New York, NY
Transparent Fortuny gauze pieces are based on the ancient tunic which was a shirt like garment that became traditional attire in roman times, the copts or christian egyptians...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Mariano Fortuny Cafe au Lait Delphos Gown
By Fortuny
Located in New York, NY
This dress is made of finely pleated cafe au lait colored silk with silk cording along side seams and clear striped glass beads threaded through the cording. Named after a Greek ...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Mariano Fortuny Apricot Delphos Gown
By Fortuny
Located in New York, NY
This made This dress of finely pleated apricot colored silk with silk cording along side seams, and multicolored glass beads threaded through the cording. Named after a Greek cla...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Mariano Fortuny Green Stencilled Velvet Long Coat
By Fortuny
Located in New York, NY
Fortuny translated the caftan as a loose fitting outer garment,usually made out of silk velvet crepe or gauze the fitted back and open front allowed for elaborate stenciled decoratio...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Mariano Fortuny Cobalt Blue Peplos Gown
By Fortuny
Located in New York, NY
This dress is made of finely pleated cobalt blue colored silk with silk cording along side seams ,shoulders , and tunic hem, and multicolored glass beads threaded through the cordin...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Mariano Fortuny Black Stencilled Velvet Long Coat
By Fortuny
Located in New York, NY
Fortuny's coats often take their inspiration from a myrid of references,renaissance,persian,arabic .These are often elaborately decorated in historical motifs surprisingly unrelated...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Mariano Fortuny Claret Delphos. Provenance Tina Chow
By Fortuny
Located in New York, NY
This dress is made of finely pleated claret colored silk with silk cording along side seams, and multicolored glass beads threaded through the cording. The beads are amber glass with...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Mariano Fortuny Black Stencilled Velvet Persian Style Coat
By Fortuny
Located in New York, NY
This three-quarter length black velvet persian coat was printed with metallic paints with Venetian glass buttons and silk loop closures at the center fr...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Mariano Fortuny Sienna Peplos Gown
By Fortuny
Located in New York, NY
This dress is made of finely pleated sienna colored silk with silk cording along side seams,shoulders and tunic hem with multicolored glass beads threaded through the cording. The...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Mariano Fortuny Off White Silk Delphos Gown
By Fortuny
Located in New York, NY
This dress is made of finely pleated off white colored silk with silk cording along side seams and clear striped glass beads threaded through the cording. Named after a Greek cl...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Mariano Fortuny Rare Shell Pink Long Sleeved Delphos Gown
By Fortuny
Located in New York, NY
Description: This dress is made of finely pleated shell pink colored silk with silk cording along side seams, and multicolored glass beads threaded through the cording. Named aft...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Rare Mariano Fortuny Berry Silk Crepe Coat
By Fortuny
Located in Riverdale, NY
This wonderful square cut berry silk crepe Fortuny coat is gilt stencilled in a Bellini pattern. Fortuny's ethereal crepe and gauze garments are extremely...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Mariano Fortuny Aquamarine Gauze Stencilled Coat
By Fortuny
Located in Riverdale, NY
Transparent Fortuny gauze pieces are based on the ancient tunic which was a shirt like garment that became traditional attire in roman times, the copts or christian egyptians...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Extremely Rare Mariano Fortuny Cotton Delphos
By Fortuny
Located in Riverdale, NY
This extraordinarily rare dress is made of finely pleated white cotton. Few cotton pleated Fortuny dresses have been documented and survived.

Named after a Greek clas...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Fortuny Banana Stencilled Velvet Coat, Provenance Tina Chow
By Fortuny
Located in Riverdale, NY
Fortuny translated the caftan as a loose fitting outer garment, usually made out of silk velvet crepe or gauze the fitted back and open front allowed f...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Mariano Fortuny Rare Shell Pink Long Sleeved Delphos Gown
By Fortuny
Located in Riverdale, NY
Description: This dress is made of finely pleated shell pink colored silk with silk cording along side seams, and multicolored glass beads threaded through the cording.

Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Mariano Fortuny Apricot Delphos Gown
By Fortuny
Located in Riverdale, NY
This made This dress of finely pleated apricot colored silk with silk cording along side seams, and multicolored glass beads threaded through the cording.

Named after...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Mariano Fortuny Black Stencilled Velvet Long Coat
By Fortuny
Located in Riverdale, NY
Fortuny's coats often take their inspiration from a myrid of references,renaissance,persian,arabic .These are often elaborately decorated in historical motifs surprisingly unrelated...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Mariano Fortuny Black Delphos Gown
By Fortuny
Located in Riverdale, NY
This dress is made of finely pleated black colored silk with silk cording along side seams, and multicolored glass beads threaded through the cording.

Named after a ...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Mariano Fortuny Pink Coral Stencilled Velvet Long Coat
By Fortuny
Located in Riverdale, NY
Fortunys coats take their inspiration from a myrid of references,renaissance ,persian,arabic .These are often elaborately decorated in historical motifs...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Mariano Fortuny Black Stencilled Velvet Persian Style Coat
By Fortuny
Located in Riverdale, NY
This three-quarter length black velvet persian coat was printed with metallic paints with Venetian glass buttons and silk loop closures at the center fr...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Mariano Fortuny Black Peplos Gown
By Fortuny
Located in Riverdale, NY
This dress is made of finely pleated black colored silk with silk cording along side seams,shoulders and tunic hem with multicolored glass beads threaded through the cording.
...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Mariano Fortuny Rare Black Stencilled Velvet Drawstring Bag
By Fortuny
Located in Riverdale, NY
Fortunys stenciled velvet drawstring bags found a use for small pieces of his precious velvets, their sizes vary due to the dimensions of the cuts.They are exceedingly rare.
<...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Mariano Fortuny Burgundy Stencilled Crepe Coat
By Fortuny
Located in Riverdale, NY
Fortuny translated the caftan as a loose fitting outer garment, usually made out of silk velvet crepe or gauze the fitted back and open front allowed for elaborate stenciled decorati...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Mariano Fortuny Pink Stencilled Velvet Persian Style Coat
By Fortuny
Located in Riverdale, NY
this three-quarter length orange-red cut velvet jacket was printed with metallic paints with Venetian glass buttons and silk loop closures at the center front.

The han...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Mariano Fortuny Claret Delphos. Provenance Tina Chow
By Fortuny
Located in Riverdale, NY
This dress is made of finely pleated claret colored silk with silk cording along side seams, and multicolored glass beads threaded through the cording. The beads are amber glass with...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Mariano Fortuny Pink Coral Stencilled Velvet Drawstring Bag
By Fortuny
Located in Riverdale, NY
Fortunys stenciled velvet drawstring bags found a use for small pieces of his precious velvets, their sizes vary due to the dimensions of the cuts.They are exceedingly rare.
<...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Mariano Fortuny Gauze Sleevless Coat, Provenance Tina Chow
By Fortuny
Located in Riverdale, NY
Transparent Fortuny gauze pieces are based on the ancient tunic which was a shirt like garment that became traditional attire in roman times, the copts or christian egyptians...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Mariano Fortuny Black Gauze Stencilled Short Coat
By Fortuny
Located in Riverdale, NY
Fortuny translated the caftan as a loose fitting outer garment, usually made out of silk velvet crepe or gauze the fitted back and open front allowed for elaborate stenciled decorati...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Mariano Fortuny Green Stencilled Velvet Long Coat
By Fortuny
Located in Riverdale, NY
Fortuny translated the caftan as a loose fitting outer garment,usually made out of silk velvet crepe or gauze the fitted back and open front allowed for elaborate stenciled decoratio...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Mariano Fortuny Light Cafe au Lait Short Sleeved Delphos Gown
By Fortuny
Located in Riverdale, NY
This dress is made of finely pleated light cafe au lait colored silk with silk cording along side seams, and multicolored glass beads threaded through th...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Mariano Fortuny Amethyst Delphos Gown
By Fortuny
Located in Riverdale, NY
This dress is made of finely pleated amythest colored silk with silk cording along side seams, and multicolored glass beads threaded through the cording. Named after a Greek cla...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Mariano Fortuny Sienna Peplos Gown
By Fortuny
Located in Riverdale, NY
This dress is made of finely pleated sienna colored silk with silk cording along side seams,shoulders and tunic hem with multicolored glass beads threaded through the cording.
...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Mariano Fortuny Off White Silk Delphos Gown
By Fortuny
Located in Riverdale, NY
This dress is made of finely pleated off white colored silk with silk cording along side seams and clear striped glass beads threaded through the cording.

Named afte...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Mariano Fortuny Black Silk Peplos Gown
By Fortuny
Located in Riverdale, NY
This dress is made of finely pleated black colored silk with silk cording along side seams,shoulders and tunic hem with matte frosted colored glass beads threaded through the cordin...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Mariano Fortuny Cobalt Blue Peplos Gown
By Fortuny
Located in Riverdale, NY
This dress is made of finely pleated cobalt blue colored silk with silk cording along side seams ,shoulders , and tunic hem, and multicolored glass beads threaded through the cordin...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Mariano Fortuny Cafe au Lait Delphos Gown
By Fortuny
Located in Riverdale, NY
This dress is made of finely pleated cafe au lait colored silk with silk cording along side seams and clear striped glass beads threaded through the cording.

Named af...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny

Rare Mariano Fortuny Silk Crepe Coat
By Fortuny
Located in New York, NY
This wonderful square cut berry silk crepe Fortuny coat is gilt stencilled in a Bellini pattern. Fortuny's ethereal crepe and gauze garments are extremely...
Category

Late 19th Century Italian Art Nouveau Fortuny

Fortuny fashion for sale on 1stDibs.

Find an extraordinary range of authentic Fortuny fashion available on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing our collection of unique vintage and designer fashion to elevate your daily look or to introduce new colors to the dazzling formal wear in your wardrobe, this designer’s body of work includes elements of pink, blue, orange and other tones. Most of the items here were designed during the 20th Century, but you can find examples that were created as recently as the 21st Century and Contemporary. Customers who are interested in this designer might also find the work of Ferragamo, Pierpaolo Piccioli, and Off-White appealing. On 1stDibs, find haute couture, vintage and designer Fortuny fashion from top boutiques around the world. Fortuny fashion prices can differ depending upon time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $2,321 and tops out at $2,321, while the average work can sell for $2,321.
Questions About Fortuny
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Founded in 1922, Mariano Fortuny’s designs are handcrafted on the island of Giudecca, in Venice, Italy. Fortuny is famous for its pleated dresses, and for its technique of pleating, which has never been revealed. On 1stDibs, find a collection of Fortuny pieces from some of the world’s top sellers.

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