Manuel Pertegaz

Manuel Pertegaz Ibáñez (18 May 1918 – 30 August 2014) known as Manuel Pertegaz or simply as Pertegaz was a Spanish fashion designer. He was so highly regarded that he was asked to succeed Christian Dior in 1957 as head designer at Dior, but chose to remain in Spain, where by the 1960s he was considered its leading couturier.

Early life Manuel Pertegaz Ibáñez kept his date of birth relatively secret, although obituaries place the year as 1917.

In 1957, following the sudden death of Christian Dior, Pertegaz was proposed as his successor, but chose to remain in Spain rather than take up the role as head designer for Dior.

By the 1960s Pertegaz had a staff of 700 employed in workrooms in Madrid and Barcelona, and was considered the foremost couturier in Spain.

Famous clients included Ava Gardner, Jackie Kennedy and Audrey Hepburn.

Death Pertegaz died in Barcelona on 30 August 2014. José Ignacio Wert, the culture and education minister of Spain, made the announcement, paying tribute to Pertegaz's memory by declaring his name synonymous with elegance.