Giovanni Maria “Gianni” Versace (2 December 1946 – 15 July 1997) was an Italian fashion designer who founded the luxury fashion house Versace. He created accessories, fragrances, makeup, home furnishings, and clothing.
Gianni Versace was born in Reggio di Calabria, Italy. His parents owned a small clothing store, where he would help them select clothes and accessories for the shop windows. From a young age, he had a genuine interest in the world of fashion and learned about cut and fabrics.
Aside from clothing, Versace was also drawn to drawing and initially considered a career in architecture. However, he eventually decided to focus on the family business and left college to help his parents in their clothing store.
Until the age of 25, Versace worked in the family store, honing his fashion design skills and gaining local recognition. He then moved to Milan, where he worked for three prominent fashion designers. Versace became invaluable in organizing fashion shows and preparing collections.
With confidence in his abilities, Versace embarked on opening his own fashion house. His debut in 1978 garnered widespread acclaim, and he registered his own trademark and opened the first store. His siblings, Santo and Donatella Versace, joined him in the new venture.
The Medusa Gorgon became the emblem of the Versace fashion house. Versace saw the Gorgon as a symbol of captivating and unconditional beauty.
In 1979, Versace expanded his offerings with a clothing line for men. His collections gained fame for experimenting with cuts and favoring bold outfits that highlighted the body. He also opened brand stores worldwide, and his success and influence grew.
Regarding his personal life, Versace had a happy relationship with fashion model Paul Beck before Beck started dating Versace’s sister, Donatella, causing a rift between the siblings. Versace’s long-term partner was Antonio D’Amico, who worked at the Versace fashion house.
Tragically, Gianni Versace was killed in 1997 by a spree killer named Andrew Cunanan. Following his death, Donatella Versace took over as the head of the fashion house. Half of Gianni Versace’s fashion empire was bequeathed to his niece, Allegra Versace. Antonio D’Amico received the right to live in any of the Versace-owned villas and a generous monthly allowance.
In 2018, the Versace company was acquired by Michael Kors, with Donatella Versace remaining as the head of creative design.
