(From left to right) Gigliola Curiel, Zhao Yizheng and Raffaella Curiel at the Milan event. Zhao's company has a tie up with the Curiels. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Gigliola's elegant and classic designs then became the go-to choice for Italian high society, and Gigliola also became the first Italian designer to grant exclusivity to both Bergdorf & Goodman in New York and Harrods in London.

Raffaella Curiel, the daughter of Gigliola Curiel, joined the family business in 1961, and then began running the business from her atelier in Corso Matteotti.

She was later joined by her daughter Gigliola Curiel, who is named after her grandmother.

While the brand is secretive about its client list, it is said that US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton was once tempted by it although she had to turn to American designers later as then first lady when her husband Bill Clinton entered the White House.

More than 1,000 guests and clients visited the exhibition, including Lamberto Dini, the former Italian prime minister; Beppe Modenese, the honorary chairman of the Italian Chamber of Fashion and Mario Boselli, the former president of the Italian Fashion Chamber.