Dario Vitale Leaves Versace After Eight Months

Dario Vitale, the creative director of Italian fashion brand Versace, is leaving his post after just eight months, the company confirmed Thursday. His departure comes just two days after Prada Group completed its $1.375 billion acquisition of Versace, marking a new era for the luxury label.

Background on the Acquisition

Versace issued a statement saying: "We would like to sincerely thank Dario for his outstanding contribution to developing the brand’s creative strategy during this transitional period and wish him all the best in his future endeavors." Vitale will be leaving the brand one week from Friday, December 12th. A successor will be announced in the near future. Meanwhile, CEO Emmanuel Gintzburger will lead the creative team.

The Merger’s Impact

The much-anticipated merger is expected to revitalize Versace’s fortunes after the company’s mediocre results as part of US luxury conglomerate Capri Holdings in the wake of the pandemic. Prada said in a one-line statement that the acquisition was completed after receiving all regulatory approvals. Capri Holdings, which owns Michael Kors and Jimmy Choo, said the money would be used to pay down debt.

Donatella Versace’s Reaction

Donatella Versace welcomed the deal in an Instagram post that also marked the birthday of the brand’s late founder, her brother Gianni Versace. Vitale’s appointment in April was notable as he was only the third creative director and the first outside the Versace family. Donatella Versace took over as creative director when her brother and founder Gianni Versace was murdered in 1997.

Vitale’s Time at Versace

His first collection for the house came out in September and Vitale’s debut took place during Milan Fashion Week and spanned two floors of a 17th-century palazzo in Italy. At the time of Vitale’s debut, he said: "Growing up in Italy, introduced him to the Versace codes, "such a bold attitude, very Italian." "It’s something that’s part of the culture. It’s something you know by heart," he said. “That’s the beauty of this brand, everyone has a soft spot for this brand because it’s really like Coca-Cola.”