Gianni Versace S.r.l. (Italian: [ˈdʒanni verˈsaːtʃe]), usually referred to as Versace ( vər-SAH-chay), is an Italian luxury elite fashion company founded by Gianni Versace in 1978. It produces Italian-made ready-to-wear and accessories, as well as haute couture under its Atelier Versace brand and licenses its name and branding to Luxottica for eyewear.
Gianni Versace being a native of Calabria, in the ancient Magna Graecia (Greater Greece), the company logo is inspired by Medusa, a figure from Greek mythology.
The brand was founded in 1978 by Gianni Versace and run after his death by his family: his brother Santo Versace and sister Donatella Versace while Donatella's daughter, Allegra Versace Beck, became the controlling shareholder having inherited her uncle Gianni's share. Her brother Daniel inherited much of his uncle's art collection.
In January 2019, four months after being sold to the Michael Kors Limited group, Gianni Versace S.r.l. became part of the Capri Holdings group for $2.12 billion, creating a new luxury group together with Kors and Jimmy Choo, keeping Donatella Versace as head of creative design.
On December 2, 2025, the Prada group completed the acquisition of the Italian firm for US$1.375 billion.
In February 2026, Pieter Mulier, formerly creative director of Alaïa, was announced as the chief creative officer of Versace.
Gianni Versace worked from an early age alongside his mother in the family tailor's shop until 5 February 1972. On that day, he left Reggio Calabria to move to Milan, where he initially designed collections for Florentine Flowers. Later that year, he collaborated with De Parisini di Santa Margherita, and his name began to circulate in fashion circles.
In 1976, Gianni's older brother, Santo Versace, who had an economics and business degree and an office in Messina, joined him in Milan. Together with Claudio Luti, they decided to open a company bearing Gianni's name. By March 1978, the first Versace collection was showcased at La Permanente in Milan, garnering great appreciation.
In 1972, Gianni Versace designed his first collections for Callaghan, Genny, and Complice.
In 1978, the company launched under the name "Gianni Versace Donna" and opened its first boutique in Milan's Via della Spiga. Gianni independently controlled much of the brand, from designing to retailing. In 1981, the House of Versace released their first-ever fragrance, Gianni Versace for Women. In 1982, the company expanded its offerings to include accessories, jewelry, home furnishings, and china.
In 1993, Donatella Versace added the Young Versace and Versus lines, and from 1994 the company began referring to her as co-designer for Gianni Versace. Also in 1994, the brand gained international coverage from the black Versace dress of Elizabeth Hurley, referred in the media as "that dress".
Versace has designed for various music artists, including stage and album cover costumes for Elton John in 1992 and outfits for Michael Jackson. Versace also designed clothing for the Princess of Wales and Princess Caroline of Monaco.
After the murder of Gianni Versace in 1997, his sister Donatella, formerly vice-president, took over as creative director, and his older brother Santo Versace became CEO. Donatella's daughter Allegra Versace was left a 50 percent stake in the company, which she assumed control of on her eighteenth birthday.
In 2000, the green Versace dress worn by Jennifer Lopez at the Grammy Awards gained extensive media attention. The dress was voted the fifth most iconic dress of all time and Elizabeth Hurley's black Versace dress was voted most iconic dress of all time, according to a 2008 Daily Telegraph poll.
In 2000, Versace began its effort to take control of all aspects of producing and selling its merchandise. With the company's profits in decline in the early 2000s, Fabio Massimo Cacciatori was hired as interim CEO to reorganise and restructure Versace Group in 2003. Cacciatori resigned in December 2003 due to "disputes with the Versace family". In 2004, Giancarlo di Risio from IT Holding became CEO, until he resigned in 2009 due to disagreements with Donatella. In May 2016, the Versace Group appointed Jonathan Akeroyd as CEO and board member.
In February 2014, The Blackstone Group purchased a 20 percent stake in Versace for €210 million.
In September 2018, Michael Kors offered to buy Versace for two billion euros. Versace announced all Blackstone and Versace family shares were sold to Michael Kors Limited. The acquisition was completed in December 2018, with Donatella Versace remaining head of creative design. In January 2019, Gianni Versace S.r.l. joined Capri Holdings, forming a new global fashion luxury group alongside Michael Kors and Jimmy Choo.
In 2018, Versace stopped using fur in its products and in 2020 announced it would stop using kangaroo leather. In October 2018, Versace announced its first Pre-Fall season show in New York, scheduled on Gianni Versace's 2 December birthdate. In 2021, Versace opened its first SoHo, New York boutique.