A Fashion Story… Gianni Versace

By Karen Beishuizen

Giovanni Maria Versace was born on December 2, 1946, in Reggio, Calabria, Italy. His mother was a seamstress and Gianni grew up watching his mother work on designs in her boutique. It served as an early training for him and he created his first dress when he was just nine years old.

A teacher caught him sketching famous stars in gowns when he was in fifth grade. Versace told in an interview that the teacher called his mother to tell her that her son was a sex maniac.