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Versace
Gianni Versace was born in Reggio Calabria, Italy, on December 2, 1946. After an apprenticeship at his mother’s dressmaking business, he began working as a freelance designer. Ultimately, he changed the world of fashion forever.
 At age 25, Versace was creating prêt-à-porter collections for top fashion houses of the time, including Genny, Complice, and Callaghan. In 1978, with the help of his brother, Santo, he founded the Gianni Versace company. Later that year, the first Gianni Versace collection of clothes for women was shown in Milan.
Whether in his jeans, dresses, gowns, or other clothing for women, Gianni’s bold creative genius consistently challenged the boundaries of the fashion industry. His distinctive cuts, vibrant prints, and unconventional materials brilliantly united high art and contemporary culture, and Versace quickly earned international praise. In 1982, Gianni won the Cutty Sark and L’Occhio d’Oro (Golden Eye) awards for his 1982–1983 Fall/Winter women’s collection — in which he presented his famous metal chain-mail dress. Versace also received the Golden Eye in 1984, 1990, and 1991.
Also in 1982, Versace began work for Teatro della Scala, designing costumes for Veronesi’s production of Josephlegende. Gianni’s engagement with the theater sparked a passion that would span his career. He was an ardent patron of the performing and visual arts and an esteemed member of the international artistic community. Versace’s spectacular costumes were featured in stage events worldwide, among them Donizetti’s Don Pasquale (1984), Bob Wilson’s Salomé (1987), Doktor Faust (1989), and several Béjart ballets, including Dionysos (1984), Leda and the Swan (1987), Malraux ou la Métamorphose des Dieux (1986), and Chaka Zulu (1989). In 1985, Versace was awarded the prestigious Maschera d’Argento (Silver Mask) award for his contribution to the theater.
In 1988, the jury of the Cutty Sark Award named Versace “the most innovative and creative designer in the world.” In 1993, the Council of Fashion Designers of America awarded the American Fashion Oscar to Versace, and he was honored by the Italian and French presidents.
1994 marked the opening of the Versace flagship boutique in the prestigious Kurfürstendamm, Berlin. In September, the “Versace Signatures” exhibition opened at the Kunstgewerbemuseum.
Also in 1994, Versace published Designs, the English version of his book, Vanitas — Ricami e Decori, Decori e Ricami. Collaborating with publisher Leonardo Arte, and with photographers Richard Avedon, Bruce Weber, and others, Versace produced three more highly-acclaimed volumes: Men Without Ties (1994), Do Not Disturb (1995), and Rock and Royalty (1996).
In 1995, the first Versus fashion show was held in New York. That year, Versace sponsored the Haute Couture exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, as well as Richard Avedon’s 1944–1994, both of which met with great success.
Gianni Versace died on July 15, 1997 in Miami, Florida.
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Donatella Versace, Gianni’s younger sister, was born in Reggio Calabria, Italy, in 1959. While earning her degree in Languages at the University of Florence, she assisted Gianni by supervising photographic campaigns that were instrumental in defining Versace’s signature advertising style.
From the start of his career, Gianni consulted his sister in his most important decisions, and Donatella’s bravura and dedication made her integral to Versace as the company grew. She began designing accessories, and in 1993 proceeded to create the children’s line, Versace Young. Donatella was subsequently named Head Designer for Versus — a cutting-edge brand aimed at fashion pioneers.
Just as Gianni’s passion for theater, opera, and ballet was embodied in his designs, Donatella has embraced and extended Versace’s tie to the arts through her love of contemporary music. As the brand has evolved, Sting, Madonna, Bon Jovi and Courtney Love have all represented Versace in notable advertising campaigns. Donatella has guided the brand into the new millennium, meshing heritage and innovation to keep Versace distinctly subversive yet indisputably elegant.
Today, Donatella is Vice-Chairman of the Versace Group as well as the Style & Image Director. She leads the company’s creative choices, trends, and communication. |
 
 
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