Gianni Versace was born on December 2, 1946 in the industrial town of
Reggio di Calabria, in southern Italy. His parents, Antonio, an
appliance salesperson, and Francesca, a dressmaker and clothing store
owner, had three children-Santo, Gianni, and Donatella. Gianni Versace
spent much time in his mother's shop as a child. He watched her make
clothes and admired the chic women who came into the shop. He knew at a
young age that he would become a fashion designer. Versace also drew
inspiration from the area where he lived. He often wandered among the
ancient Greek and Roman ruins, which would later provide him with themes
for his clothing. Although he loved clothes, art, and music, Versace
studied architectural drafting. At the age of 18, while he was in
school, he also worked for his mother as a buyer, going to fashion shows
throughout Europe.
Made a Name for Himself
Versace started designing clothes when he was 22. A local garment
maker hired him to design a collection that was sold in Francesca
Versace's store. Fashion models from Rome and Milan came to southern
Italy to perform in runway shows. Soon Versace's name was heard in
Milan, the center of Italian fashion.
On February 5, 1972, Versace flew north to Milan. Salvatore Chiodini
and Ezio Nicosia of the Florentine Flowers clothing mill had asked
Versace to hurry there to design a collection that had to be rushed.
Versace designed some "instant" summer wear, which was so successful
that he earned not only his four million lira wage, but also a
Volks-wagen convertible. He then designed Florentine Flowers' fall and
winter collections.
During the early 1970s, "Made in Italy" clothing was just beginning
to surface. Milan had just become the fashion capital and was the
logical place for the emerging ready-to-wear industry. Chiodini and Ezio
Nicosia's hiring of Versace marked a turning point in the fashion
industry. They realized that clothes could not continue to be anonymous.
Increasingly sophisticated buyers demanded a personal touch.
The work for Florentine Flowers was Versace's first independent
assignment. Shortly thereafter he designed for De Parisini of Santa
Margherita. In 1973, Versace designed women's ready-to-wear clothing for
Callaghan, known for its knitwear and Genny, which featured leather and
suede. In 1974, Versace created and developed his own line-Complice.
Although he wasn't yet working under his own name, Versace already had
his own label. Under the Complice name, Versace designed an all-leather
collection. He was one of the few designers to feature leather at this
time.
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