Born in Belgium, Diane initially rose to prominence when she married German Prince Egon von Fürstenberg. Following their divorce, she has continued to use his family name.
Studying economics at Madrid University and University of Geneva, Diane worked with a fashion photographer’s agent in Paris, later working as an apprentice to the textile manufacturer Angelo Ferretti in Italy, where she learned about cut, colour and fabric. It was here that she designed and produced her first silk jersey dresses.
After moving to New York, and meeting Vogue editor Diana Vreeland, she launched her business at New York Fashion Week in 1974 by introducing her signature look – the knitted jersey “wrap dress”. Her fashion company, Diane von Furstenberg (DVF) is today available in over 70 countries and 45 free-standing shops worldwide.
Diane is president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) since 2006. She is also a director of The Diller – von Furstenberg Family Foundation, which provides support to non-profit organisations in the area of community building, education, human rights, arts, health and the environment.
