Here’s a scoop set to get the whole world talking at Milan Fashion Week: Donatella Versace is back in the creative driver’s seat. Together with Los Angeles–based Revolve Group Inc., Versace is announcing a new joint venture spanning beauty and fashion — “an independent venture reflecting Donatella’s personal creative vision,” the press release explains, “designed around how a new generation discovers style, experiences culture, shops, shares, and connects.”
During a brand repositioning orchestrated by Versace’s then-owner Capri Holdings in March 2025, Versace stepped down as chief creative officer of Versace, a role she had held for nearly 30 years since her brother’s death in 1997. She was subsequently appointed Versace’s chief brand ambassador. In the meantime, Versace was acquired by Prada Group last December, and the designer who took her place, Dario Vitale, was replaced after one season by Pieter Mulier.
At 71, Versace’s appeal crosses generations. With 12.2 million followers, she is one of the most popular designers on Instagram, and her persona resonates offline as well. Her cameo in The Devil Wears Prada 2 was a callback to the 2001 original, when Miranda Priestly urges a stranded Andy Sachs to “call Donatella. Get her jet.” In real life, a string of A-listers have worn her vintage designs on the red carpet this year, from Zendaya on the Spider-Man: Brand New Day press tour in a webbed 2016 Atelier Versace dress, to Miley Cyrus in 2015 Atelier Versace at her Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony, to Jennifer Lopez in 2004 Atelier Versace at the Office Romance premiere. And who was the woman behind the plunging 1999 Versace dress Lopez wore to the Grammys, celebrated as the dress that launched Google Image Search? Donatella, of course.
The new deal with California-based fashion and lifestyle retailer Revolve will tap into that fame. “Revolve understands something I believe deeply: culture comes from connection,” Versace says. “Together, we want to create that connection with a new voice, a new look, and a new energy.”
Revolve Group was founded by Michael Mente and Mike Karanikolas in 2003 and has grown its online offering to encompass 1,600 brands across two platforms: Revolve, dedicated to established labels, and Fwrd, which showcases emerging ones. The company reported $1.23 billion in total revenue in 2025 and made a splash by announcing a joint venture with pop star Cardi B, marking its entry into the beauty category, and another with influencer Sofia Richie Grainge. “Donatella is one of the defining creative voices of our time. This partnership gives that vision an entirely new platform and the freedom to build something from the ground up,” notes Mente, co-founder and co-CEO. Raissa Gerona, president of brand and partnerships, agrees: “Donatella has an extraordinary instinct for what the next generation wants and an unmatched ability to connect fashion with culture. That is what makes this partnership so exciting.” “By combining Donatella’s creative authority with Revolve’s technology, infrastructure and global reach, we have an opportunity to create something genuinely distinctive — and build it for the long term,” concludes Karanikolas, co-founder and co-CEO, in the release.
The brand will launch across the United States, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East. The first products are expected to be introduced in 2027, along with a name reveal. The scope and ambition of the project are significant and will include entertainment beyond the runway. Says Versace: “I believe creativity should be fearless, inclusive, and alive in the world. I have always been inspired by the next generation, in music, film, art and, of course, fashion. This partnership gives me the freedom to speak to that generation in a completely new and personal [way].”through beauty and fashion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about Exclusive Donatella Versace Returns with a New Brand
Beginner Questions
1 What is this new brand by Donatella Versace
It is a new fashion venture separate from Versace the company she helped lead for decades It marks her return to the industry with a fresh label
2 Why did Donatella leave Versace
She didnt necessarily leave in a dramatic way After Versace was acquired by Capri Holdings she eventually stepped back from her daytoday role This new brand is her next chapter
3 Is this new brand related to Versace
No It is an independent brand It is not owned by or officially connected to Versace or Capri Holdings
4 What kind of clothing will the new brand sell
Reports suggest it will focus on highend luxury fashion likely including readytowear accessories and possibly footwear
5 When will the brand launch
The launch timeline has been reported as upcoming with initial collections expected within the next fashion season Exact dates are still being finalized
6 Where can I buy it
Initially it will likely be available through the brands own website and select luxury retailers It may not be in massmarket stores
7 Is this brand for men women or both
Early indications suggest it will be a full lifestyle brand potentially offering both mens and womens collections
8 Why is this a big deal
Donatella Versace is a fashion icon Any new project from her draws major attention because of her history and influence
9 What does exclusive mean in the headline
It means this news was reported first by a specific media outlet before anyone else It doesnt mean the brand itself is exclusive to one store
10 How is this different from other celebrity fashion brands
Donatella is not a celebrity dabbling in fashion She is a legendary designer with decades of experience This is a serious highfashion venture not a quick licensing deal
Advanced Questions
11 What is the business model for this new brand
It appears to be a directtoconsumer and wholesale hybrid focusing on luxury pricing and limited distribution to maintain exclusivity
12 Who is funding the new brand
It is reportedly