Gianni Versace
Gianni Versace, (December 2, 1946-July 15, 1997) was a Italian fashion designer known for his daring fashions and his glamorous lifestyle.
Gianni's mother was a dressmaker, and he was raised watching her work on designs in her boutique. After graduating from high school, Versace worked for a short time at his mother’s shop before moving in 1972 to Milan, where he worked for several Italian ateliers. In 1978, with the Girombellis help, he created his own company, Gianni Versace SpA. That same year he staged his first ready-to-wear show. His brother, Santo, served as CEO, and his sister, Donatella, was a designer and vice president.
When his brand started to become more famous, he started to open boutiques in the United States. In 1989 he created costumes for the San Francisco Opera. After that, he became interested in making costumes for operas and ballets. In 1993, Versace was diagnosed with a rare cancer of the inner ear. He successfully fought this cancer and then began to pass a large part of his business responsibilities to his family.
On July 15, 1997, while returning home from Miami Beach after a morning walk, Versace was shot dead in the front by serial killer Andrew Cunanan. At the time of his death, many believed that the designer's 25-year career was in full swing; he had moderated his early work and began creating increasingly refined but colorful and attractive ensembles.