HOUSE OF VERSACE - GUIDES TO DESIGNER FASHION

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, whe