The Versace company has often been called “the Rock n’ Roll designer” because it has had many famous clients, including Elton John and Michael Jackson. Versace designed the stage costumes and costumes for Elton John’s album cover in 1992. Versace also designed clothing for the Princess of Wales and Princess Caroline of Monaco. Versace is known for using the same designs on the catwalk as in their advertisements.
After Gianni Versace’s murder in 1997, his sister Donatella Versace, a former vice-president, took over as creative director and his older brother Santo Versace became CEO. Donatella’s daughter, Allegra Versace, received a 50% stake in the company, which she assumed control of at the age of eighteen.
In 2000, the “green Versace dress” worn by Jennifer Lopez at the 42nd Grammy Awards gained much media attention, being voted “the fifth most iconic dress of all time”, in 2008, Hurley’s 1994 dress was voted first in a Daily Telegraph poll.
Jennifer Lopez
VERSACE
Versace is an Italian fashion house founded by Gianni Versace in 1978. The Versace logo is inspired by the Medusa. Medusa is a mythological goddess who has snakes for hair and the ability to petrify anyone who looks her directly in the eye.
In 1972, Gianni Versace created his first collections for Callaghan, Genny and Complice. In 1978, the company began trading as “Gianni Versace Donna”. The first Versace boutique was opened in Via della Spiga in Milan in 1978. Versace was one of the few independent designers to have complete control of the brand. In 1982, the company also began to operate in the accessories, jewellery and home furnishings industries. In 1993, Donatella Versace created the “Young Versace”, and “Versus” lines. In 1994, the brand gained international recognition thanks to Elizabeth Hurley’s black Versace dress.
In the early 2000s, the company’s profits declined. Fabio Massimo Cacciatori was hired as interim CEO to reorganize and restructure the Versace Group in 2003. Cacciatori resigned in December 2003 due to “disputes with the Versace family”. From 2004 Giancarlo di Risio of IT Holding was CEO of the group until his resignation in 2009 due to disagreements with Donatella. In May 2016, the Versace Group appointed Mr. Jonathan Akeroyd as CEO and member of the company’s board of directors.In February 2014, The Blackstone Group acquired a 20% stake in Versace for €210 million.In 2016, more than 1,500 Versace boutiques were open worldwide.In September 2018, Versace announced that one hundred percent of all shares in the Blackstone family and Versace were sold to Michael Kors Group Limited. In October 2018, Versace announced that it would present the brand’s first pre-fall fashion show in New York on December 2. The show was timed for Gianni Versace’s birthday. In 2018, Versace banned the use of natural fur in its collections. Also in 2020, the fashion house announced it would stop using kangaroo leather in its luxury products.
In 2008, Versace collaborated with AgustaWestland to create the AgustaWestland AW109 Grand Versace VIP luxury helicopter. Its interior was Versace leather.
In 2015, Versace collaborated with dancer Lil Buck to launch a line of sneakers.
In 2018, Ronnie Fieg and Donatella Versace launched the Kith x Versace collection, with a modified Medusa logo.
