Donatella Versace steps down as Versace’s creative director

After nearly 30 years at the creative helm of luxury fashion house Versace, Donatella Versace is stepping down, with Miu Miu’s Dario Vitale set to take over, the brand’s owner, Capri Holdings Limited, announced on Thursday.  

The leadership change comes amid speculation that Italian fashion giant Prada, which owns Miu Miu, is in talks to acquire Versace.

Founded in 1978 by Gianni Versace, the label has been synonymous with bold, glamorous, and jet-setter fashion, with Donatella steering its creative vision since her brother’s passing in 1997.

With this transition, the Versace family will no longer oversee the brand’s creative direction.

However, Donatella Versace will continue her association with the house as its chief brand ambassador, a role she will assume on April 1—the same day Vitale takes over as creative director.

“It has been the greatest honour of my life to carry on my brother Gianni’s legacy. He was the true genius, but I hope I have some of his spirit and tenacity,” Versace said, adding that she will remain “Versace’s most passionate supporter”.

Vitale has led the design direction of Miu Miu — Prada’s sister brand, which targets a younger clientele — since 2023, helping to boost the company’s bottom line in a challenging environment for luxury fashion.

Versace boasts “a unique heritage that has spanned decades and has shaped the history of fashion”, Vitale said.

Fashion group Capri Holdings, which also owns Jimmy Choo and Michael Kors, has owned Versace since 2018.