Capri Holdings, owner of the Versace, Jimmy Choo and Michael Kors brands, has revealed that Donatella Versace will take on the role of brand ambassador from 1 April 2025.
She will step down from her position as chief designer of the Versace label, a position she has held for almost three decades.
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In the new capacity, she will focus on the brand’s philanthropic efforts and continue to champion Versace on a global scale.
Dario Vitale, who previously served as design and image director at Prada Group subsidiary Miu Miu, has been named as Versace’s chief creative officer.
Donatella Versace stated: “I want to thank my incredible design team and all the employees at Versace that I have had the privilege of working with for over three decades. 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. In my new role as chief brand ambassador, I will remain Versace’s most passionate supporter. Versace is in my DNA and always in my heart.”
The announcement by Capri comes amidst reports that Prada is nearing an agreement to purchase Versace for €1.5bn ($1.6bn).
Prada has shown interest in acquiring Jimmy Choo, another brand under Capri’s portfolio, as reported by Reuters.
Vitale’s appointment comes amidst a series of notable shifts among designers within the industry.
In early 2025, Sabato De Sarno departed from his role as Gucci’s design chief after a brief period.
Versace was established by Gianni Versace in Milan in 1978 and acquired by Michael Kors, now Capri Holdings, for €1.8bn in 2018. The Versace family received Capri shares worth €150m as part of the transaction. Capri reported a total revenue of $1.26bn for the third quarter (Q3) of the fiscal year 2025 (FY25), marking an 11.6% decrease from $1.42bn during Q3 FY24.
The company recently projected Versace’s revenue to be at $810m in 2025 before an anticipated rebound in growth by 2027 to $850m.
