Gianni Versace S.p.A. (pronounced ['ʤɑnni ver'saʧe]) is an Italian fashion clothing business founded by Gianni Versace in 1978 and currently headed by Donatella Versace as creative designer and Santo Versace as CEO.

Versace is one of the world's leading international fashion houses. Versace designs, markets and distributes luxury clothing, accessories, fragrances, makeup and home furnishings under the various brands of the Versace Group.

Versace's Style Department employs a group of designers and stylists who work in teams specifically dedicated to each individual line. These teams operate under the close supervision and guidance of Creative Director, Donatella Versace.

Versace collections are distributed through a network of 240 exclusive boutiques, over 150 dedicated spaces in major department stores and duty-free areas, as well as a number of selective multi-brand boutiques in 60 countries.

Gianna Versace S.p.A. directly employs 1,500 people and provides indirect labor for an additional 5,000 worldwide.

With a broad international presence, the Versace Group had sales of 822 billion lire (424.5 million Euro) and net earnings of 18 billion lire (9.3 million Euro) in the 1999 fiscal year. The brands of the Versace Group include: Gianni Versace Couture, Versus Versace, Versace Jeans Couture, Versace Ceramic Designs, Versace Collection, Versace Sport, Versace Intensive, Versace Precious Items, and Versace Young. It also operates a hotel, the Palazzo Versace.

Currently only Versace Couture has a runway presence, Versus Versace, a slightly cheaper line compared to Versace Couture, was until 2003 presented on the runway. It should be pointed out that although called Versace Couture it is in fact ready-to-wear clothes that are made in a Versace factory rather than a licensed factory throughout the world. 2004 saw Versace items being manufactured under licence in Eastern Europe in countries such as Poland; a change from the previous Italy-only manufacturing locations.

Although called Versace Couture, it is in fact prêt-à-porter clothing (ready-to-wear), the difference to the other brands is its runway presence, items designed by Donatella Versace, higher quality and exclusivity of materials such as various furs and skins plus the manufacture of clothes in a Versace owned factory in Italy.

Versace Precious Items is Versace S.p.A's timepiece, jewellery and writing instrument sub-brand. Timepieces and jewellery are made in Switzerland, and writing instruments are made in France.

Some of the celebrities that have been the face for Versace are Madonna (for Versace UK 2005), Demi Moore, Britney Spears, and Christina Aguilera. Halle Berry is the new face for Versace in 2006.

Learn more about the Versace Brand for Women and Versace Brand for Men.

Gianni Versace Collections
Gianni Versace Fall Fashions
Gianni Versace Fashion Week
Gianni Versace News
Gianni Versace Profiles
Gianni Versace Runway
Gianni Versace Spring Fashions