Biography of Men's and Women's Fashion Designer Gianni Versace

Gianni Versace (1946-1997) is a major addition to the pantheon of the world's greatest and most creative designers of the 20th century. Not only has he brought about a new and innovative knowledge of fashion, but also his theatrical designs have given him an immortal place in the select world of the elite designers club.

Early life

Gianni Versace the superstar designer was born in 1946 in Italy. He spent his childhood in his mother's clothing shop where he had an early exposure to chic fashion and design. He got his inspiration for his clothing designs through exploring the Greek ruins surrounding his town. He studied architectural drafting, and worked as a clothes buyer for his mother during his teens.

Entering the Fashion Field

He started designing clothes at the comparatively young age of 22, when he began to incorporate leather, plastic and metal in his clothing designs. His clothes collections were sold in his mother's shop at that time. Fashionistas in Milan got to know more about the bright new star on the fashion horizon and he was invited By Ezio Nicosia and Salvatore Chiodini to design a long-overdue collection. His designs were an instant rage and this was his steppingstone to doing design collections. The idea of "Made in Italy" was coming into vogue, and it was the only place where you could go to get stylish and ready-to-wear fashion clothing. The personal touch in one's sophisticated clothes had come to stay.

More Fashion Assignments

Gianni Versace also designed clothes for De Parisini, Genny where he worked with leather and suede and for Callaghan, which started up a new series of ready to make made knit ware for women. He had his own label even though he had not decided to start his own independent business.

Complice

In 1974, Versace helped to create a new fashion line for Complice made entirely of leather. Two years later his older brother left his job and joined his him in the start up a new label - Gianni Versace. His sister and brother-in-law also joined this enterprise to make this a completely family owned business. By 1978, he had already begun displaying men's collections in pastel colors.

Independent Business

Versace is about the only big label fashion designing house that controls all the aspects of the business: from the design Board to retailing in-house. These retail operations are franchised in New York, Paris, Milan, London and Madrid. The manufacturing unit takes care of the image and the quality of the products made in the Versace line.

Creativity

It was in 1982 that Versace started designing metal-based dresses that were inspired by punk fashion. The idea of bonding rubber and leather together caused a new fashion line altogether. He also did the designing for many operas, which gave a new dimension to his creativity. Dance, drama, art, color, and imagination were all fused together to create something amazingly attractive and magnificent. Additionally he made his name as a necktie designer, especially as a very fashionable accessory in men's clothing.

The brilliant career of Gianni Versace was cut short in 1997, when a serial killer shot him dead on his doorstep in Miami. His legacy is carried on today by his sister and niece.