New menswear designer Ungaro

Frank Boclet has been named menswear designer for Emanuel Ungaro. He is replacing Jose Levy, who quit the fashion house six months ago. Boclet is joining the firm from Francesco Smalto and will present his first collection for Ungaro in Paris in July.

Ungaro intends to breathe new life into its menswear business, which consists of two lines. "The first Emanuel Ungaro line is very small today," Mounir Moufarrige, Ungaro's president and chief executive, told WWD. The second line, Ungaro Homme, represents the largest part of the business and is manufactured by the British Marchpole Holdings. According to Moufarrige, menswear currently accounts for 30 percent of total company sales. Last year, sources estimated the men's business to be worth about $50 million.

"We have a wonderful opportunity to develop a more fashionable first line," Moufarrige said. "I think Frank has a good vision to do so." He added that Boclet's assignment was to design "seductive" clothes. Ungaro is owned by California-based high-tech entrepreneur Asim Abdullah.