Serious about starting a clothing line? If so subscribe to our RSS feed or Email notifications for exclusive articles/updates that you don't want to miss!

To be honest Donatella Versace would most likely not be as wide known if not for her brother Gianni Versace being gunned down in 1997 in front of his Miami Mansion. A few years after Donatella begin to bring the Versace label into its current prominence in the fashion industry.

Donatella was born in the Italian town of Reggio di Calabria in 1955 the youngest of four children. Her mother a dressmaker to the aristocracy and her father a businessman.(Personal financier)

Donatella followed her brother Gianni who was ten years older to pursue knitwear design in Florence, Italy. She planned to work with her brother as Public Relations, but became more of a muse and valuable for critiquing his work as a designer. Donatella played an important role in the Versace empire coming up with many ideas that has brought it from a fledgling fashion collection in the Eighties. She is responsible for the idea to use celebrities or well known models for the catwalk shows knowing it would bring more press coverage to Gianni Versace’s events.

In 1997 her brother was murdered by serial killer Andrew Philip Cunanan in front of his mansion, which stirred up the Versace family so much that they moved the family to a private location on the Carribbean islands for a short time and canceled the Spring-Summer collection of 1998 and the indirect operations of the company.

After taking a little over a year off from producing the Versace Collection Donatella bounced back with a couture show for the Versace Atelier at the Hotel Ritz Paris. Donatella followed in her brothers footsteps and built the runway over a pool, but using sheer glass as the base.

Even though Donatella played a big role in the Versace Empire her daughter Allegra Versace was left the bulk of ownership in the company with a value of $700 million which she received on her 18th birthday in 2004. Approximately 50% ownership of the Versace empire.

Awards and Acknowledgment:

• In October of 2002, Gianni and Donatella’s most famously designed Versace clothing were displayed in a special exhibit of the historical Victoria and Albert Museum of London to be honored for extraordinary fashion success and symbolism worldwide.

Popularity: 4% [?]