Donatella, younger sister of the founder Gianni Versace, currently serves as the Chief Creative Officer. She will be supporting the brand’s philanthropic and charitable endeavours in her new role, besides advocating it worldwide.
In a statement, Vitale said he is “honoured” to join the brand that has a “unique heritage” spanning over decades. “It is a privilege to contribute to the future growth of Versace and its global impact through my vision, expertise and dedication,” he added.
On his appointment, Donatella Versace said she was “thrilled” and “excited” to see the brand through new eyes. As the Chief Brand Ambassador, she looks forward to being its “most passionate supporter” in the future.
Who is Dario Vitale?
Born in 1983 near Naples, Italy, Vitale is a graduate from Istituto Marangoni in 2006 and worked with Dsquared2 for a year. He kickstarted his career at Bottega Veneta and later went on to join Miu Miu, staying in the company from July 2010 until January this year.
According to Vogue Business, Vitale rose through the ranks in his over a decade long journey in Miu Miu from the role of fashion designer to design and image director.
He worked under the leadership of Miuccia Prada and Fabio Zambernardi, who parted ways with the company in September 2023 after serving as the design director for both the Prada and Miu Miu brands.
Ever since his departure from Miu Miu, Vitale was rumoured to be the frontrunners for Bottega Veneta and Gucci along with few others.
Miu Miu’s growth
Having Vitale as its designer, the brand has seen remarkable growth in the past few years, with its retail sales growing by 58% in 2023 and an even better 93% last year.
The brand was ranked right on top among the hottest brands by Lyst across all quarters of 2024, apart from the second quarter wherein it stood second after Loewe.
Vitale is not much popular on social media and has less than 4,000 followers on Instagram compared to more than 12 million followers of Donatella Versace.
Versace, a part of Capri Holdings, reported a revenue of $193 million, down by 15%, in the quarter ending December 28.
First Published: Mar 13, 2025 7:29 PM IST
