'Film by Jack Gembitsky Written by Niyati Libotte The fashion industry has no shortage of famous Italian families who’ve turned their name into towering multi-million dollar empires. Gucci. Prada. Armani. Fendi. All have a fascinating story, but none can rival the tragedy and drama of Versace. It reads like an Italian opera of epic scale, from its meteoric rise and dizzying heights of the Miami years to the untimely murder of one of the most iconic designers of the 20th century. Gianni Versace revolutionised the fashion industry with his transcendent desire to be compelling and daring, mirrored in his extravagant and dynamic designs. The world was captivated by his bold and glamorous collections, injecting sexuality, art and stunning colour into luxury fashion. But though he was the envy of the Fashion world, Versace’s story is shrouded in tragedy. His shocking murder in 1997 shook the industry and the brand to its core and left a gap only his sister Donatella could fill. Here we take a look at the towering, multi-billion dollar dynasty that has endured and continues to inspire: the fashion powerhouse that is the House of Versace. Born in 1946, Gianni Versace was a small town boy from Reggio in Calabria, Italy. He was nurtured in a home that valued design, with a dressmaker mother who helped shape his artistic and avant-garde sensibilities. by the age of 9 Gianni had designed his first dress: it was a glimpse of the triumphs awaiting him. After graduating high school, where he studied architecture, Versace worked in his mother’s workshop before moving to Milan in 1972 to catch the eye of the luxe Italian fashion labels of the day. Yet in his heart he always carried home with him and it remains woven into his fine collections. “When you are born in a place such as Calabria and there is beauty all around a Roman bath, a Greek remain, you cannot help but be influenced by the classical past”. History ran deep in his collections, most clearly present in the Medusa-esque emblem that became synonymous with the Versace label. Gianni Versace favoured a seductive traditionalism and Baroque motif that flourished in his bright, extravagant, and flashy dress designs. By 1974, Versace was designing for dominant Italian labels like Florentine Flowers, De Parisini, Callaghan, and Complice, and was establishing the Versace name as one of the most fearless in the world of Italian fashion. The House of Versace officially launched in 1978 by Gianni and his sister, Donatella, under the name “Gianni Versace Donna”. Opened in Milan’s Via della Spiga, the first womenswear collections met with almost immediate success. Colour and serenity radiated from the streets of Milan. It was fast becoming the fashion capital of the world, and the House of Versace was to become the foundation. Powerful. Sexy. Glamorous. Italian fashion evolved with every new and daring collection that the compelling designer created. Versace was innovative, revolutionizing techniques of bonding leather and rubber using lasers. He also invented the now inherently “Versace” metal mesh dresses. Moreover, he effortlessly melded fashion with music and art to influence pop culture at a level unrivalled by any designer before or after, and is credited with introducing the world to the “supermodel”.'
Tags: fashion , Versace , donatella versace , gianni versace , designer fashion , italian fashion , medusa , House of Versace , gianni versace murder , Italian designers , Italian Designer Fashion
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