Emanuel Ungaro brought luminous elegance and commercial immediacy to the seventh annual International Fashion Festival in Porto Montenegro, unveiling its Resort 2026 collection in a setting where Adriatic serenity meets high-octane glamour. Against the open-air marina of the world’s most elite yachting enclave, the house presented a show that felt both cinematic and sharply attuned to the moment.

Designed by Kobi Halperin, the collection radiated Mediterranean ease with a cosmopolitan touch. Inspired by a recent sojourn through India, Halperin reimagined paisley motifs, brilliant pinks, and gilded sequins into silhouettes that swayed with sunlit grace. Metallic slip dresses, embroidered blouses, and airy kaftans offered a wardrobe of considered luxury—effortless yet unapologetically styled for women whose everyday lives are steeped in occasion.

Ungaro’s presence was more than just performative—it was actionable. In a rare but potent “see now, buy now” twist, the Twenty Two Concept Store swiftly placed a post-show order, affirming the label’s immediate commercial resonance. With the event broadcast live across Montenegro, the show doubled as both cultural spectacle and retail catalyst.

The house’s return to the Balkan region carries emotional and historical weight. Having staged shows in Kotor over a decade ago and in Belgrade more recently, Ungaro continues to nurture its longstanding ties to the area—ties that felt newly invigorated against Porto Montenegro’s crystalline backdrop.

Beyond the runway, the festival expanded its vision for fashion as both art and innovation. French designer Charles de Vilmorin opened with a theatrical flourish, while sustainability champion Sara Sozzani Maino helmed a thoughtful masterclass on fashion’s evolving responsibilities. A digital installation of AI-generated designs hinted at the future, even as the tactile and the handmade remained center stage.

Through it all, Ungaro’s Resort 2026 stood as a defining moment—a harmonious blend of heritage and forward motion. With Paris shows on the horizon this fall, the Montenegrin debut wasn’t just a visual triumph; it was a strategic prelude to the house’s next chapter. Refined, radiant, and retail-ready, Ungaro’s Riviera turn served as a reminder: fashion can be both aspirational and immediate, rooted and restless, all at once.