Born in Cuba in 1956, Oribe immigrated to the United States as a child. At 18, he attended beauty school in Buffalo, NY, where he met the soon-to-be-legendary hairstylist Garren, who encouraged him to pursue his passion for hairdressing. In the late 1980s and early ‘90s, Oribe began a partnership with photographer Steven Meisel and makeup artist François Nars that would re-define beauty in that era. Oribe formed a career-defining relationship with Gianni Versace in the early ’90s, which led to countless creative collaborations, including iconic print ads and commercials as well as groundbreaking runway shows. During that time, he was also known for his palatial Fifth Avenue salon at Elizabeth Arden in New York City.