Are Versace and Versace the same brand? This is a question that many people ask, especially those who are not familiar with the fashion industry. In short, the answer is yes, but there’s more to it than that.
What is Versace?
Versace is a luxury fashion brand that was founded in 1978 by Gianni Versace. The brand is known for its bold and flamboyant designs, which often feature bright colors, intricate patterns, and luxurious fabrics. Over the years, Versace has become synonymous with high-end fashion and has dressed some of the biggest celebrities in the world.
The History of Versace
Gianni Versace started his eponymous brand in Milan in 1978. At first, the company focused on designing clothing for women, but it eventually expanded to include menswear and accessories like shoes and handbags.
In 1997, tragedy struck when Gianni was murdered outside his Miami Beach mansion. His sister Donatella took over as creative director of the company and has been at the helm ever since.
Versus Versace
So where does the confusion come from? It all has to do with another brand called Versus Versace.
This is a diffusion line that was launched by Gianni in 1989 as a way to appeal to a younger audience. The line featured more affordable clothing and accessories than the mainline collection.
However, in 2020, Donatella announced that she would be merging Versus back into the mainline collection. As she explained in an interview with Vogue UK:
“We’re merging them back together because I think it’s time to move forward into a new era. We need to bring everything under one umbrella.”
The Bottom Line
In conclusion, while there may be some confusion around the different brands associated with Versace, they are all part of the same company. Versace is the luxury fashion brand that was founded by Gianni Versace, while Versus Versace was a diffusion line that has now been merged back into the main collection.
So the next time someone asks you if Versace and Versus Versace are the same thing, you can confidently say yes – but with a bit of context.