Kay Unger

Kay Unger (born 22 May 1945) is an American fashion designer. Until July 2012 she was the creative head and public face of Phoebe Company LLC and its brands; Kay Unger New York, Phoebe Couture, Unger by Kay Unger and Kay J’s by Kay Unger. She has recently decided to focus on her philanthropy.

Kay Unger was born on May 22, 1945, in Chicago, Illinois. She studied painting in the Fine Arts Program at Washington University (Missouri) and later switched to design at Parsons The New School for Design in New York City.

After graduation from Parsons in the late 1960s, Under worked as one of three apprentices for Geoffrey Beene.

After a year, she decided to develop her own line of "clean dinner dresses," with her business partners Howard Bloom and Jon Levy. Together, they founded The Gillian Group in 1972. Unger sold her dresses under the Gillian label, where the group and its many divisions quickly became one of the largest suppliers of women’s apparel in America. They grew into a $125 million company.

Fifteen days after shutting down the Gillian Group, Unger founded Phoebe Company LLC. It was here where she established the line bearing her name, Kay Unger New York. She began by offering women colorful alternatives to the little black dress and other predictable fashion staples, drawing inspiration from both Jackie O. and Audrey Hepburn among others.

In 1999, Unger was inducted as a Leading Woman Entrepreneur of the World. In 2005, the company launched Kay J's, a whimsical print pajama brand. In 2007, they launched Phoebe Couture, a more youthful and edgier line of dresses for day and evening. Later that same year, they began opening Kay Unger and Phoebe Couture boutiques in China through a licensing agreement with the JT Group of Hong Kong. In September 2008 Kay Unger New York Eyewear and Phoebe Couture Eyewear were launched.

The $40 million company’s dresses, suits, and eyewear are currently sold in more than 24 countries including the U.K., Turkey, Brazil, Australia, and Spain.

The Kay Unger New York and Phoebe Couture labels have been worn by Oprah Winfrey, Salma Hayek, Vanessa L. Williams, Tyra Banks, Kathie Lee Gifford, Paris Hilton, Dakota Fanning, Angela Bassett, and Marcia Cross. Her designs have been featured on television programs including “Gossip Girl,” “The Sopranos,” “Ugly Betty," ”Pushing Daisies,” “30 Rock,” “Two and a Half Men,” “The Today Show,” “Sex in the City,” “Tim Gunn's Guide to Style,” and “Dancing with the Stars”.

Unger makes frequent in-store appearances where she offers advice on clothing flattery techniques and personal style.

Unger is an active member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). Additionally, she is on the Board of Directors as well as a Trustee at her alma mater, Parsons/The New School for Design, as well as a participant in their education program in the Dominican Republic, where she has traveled as a guest instructor.

After leaving her company Unger founded Kay Unger Design LLC. — a multidimensional company whose products range from clothing and shoes to home products. These designs have earned numerous patents. As the CEO, Unger is a popular lecturer on design and entrepreneurship. After forty years in the fashion world, she is an expert on the business of fashion, and on dressing women of all sizes and ages. Under the Kay Unger Design rubric, Unger has sold high-fashion sketches via art sales around the world. Unger has also made philanthropy a cornerstone of her life. She serves on the board of numerous non-profits, and is the founder of the Kay Unger Family Foundation, a group that has raised funds for cancer research and arts education.

Unger has been a longtime member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, of which she also served as the first woman board member. Her passion for women’s causes led to her role as board member and founding member of The Committee of 200, an organization that advances women’s leadership in business, and the Women’s Campaign Fund.

A cancer survivor herself, Unger has a personal interest in funding cancer research and raised over $250,000 for cancer research while she served as the president of the Fashion Group International. Today, she continues her efforts working with Stand Up To Cancer, a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to accelerating cancer research while bringing new therapies to patients more quickly, by raising funds and awareness in the fashion industry.

On May 4, 2009, Kay Unger was recognized by City of Hope as a "Spirit of Life Award" recipient who has made notable contributions to her profession, her community, and her charitable causes. Kay made a $7,000,000 donation to Parsons The New School for Design's "Making Center" which opened in 2016.

Kay resides in New York City, New York.