Gianni Versace established the Italian luxury fashion house Versace in 1978.
Before founding his own label, Gianni Versace worked as a designer for Italian fashion companies including Genny, Complice, and Callaghan. He presented his first collection under his own name in Milan in 1978, marking the beginning of the Versace fashion house.
The brand became known for vivid prints, bold glamour, and references to classical Greek imagery. Its Medusa-head logo was introduced as a major visual signature, but the logo is not the event that dates the company’s founding.
Gianni Versace’s siblings Donatella and Santo also played important roles in the company. Donatella later became its artistic leader after Gianni Versace’s death in 1997.