Ferdinando Sarmi

Count Ferdinando Sarmi was the head of the Sarmi fashion design house in New York City.

Ferdinando Sarmi was born into a wealthy Italian family. He expressed interest in fashion as a youth but was discouraged from pursuing a design career by his father. Sarmi stated in a 1965 interview with Time, in Italy, when the oldest son tells his father he wants to be a dress designer, its like a woman saying she intends to be a prostitute. Sarmis father sent him to study at the University of Siena, where he received a doctor of law degree. Despite his professional training, Sarmi still desired a career in fashion. He became a costume designer and created costumes for two Italian films Musica Proibita in 1942 and Cronaca di un Amore in 1950. Sarmi was given a leading role in Cronaca di un Amore, but it was his first and only onscreen performance. He left Italy in 1951 to work in New York fashion.

Source: Wikipedia