US fashion giant Michael Kors has confirmed the company will take over the iconic Italian label, Versace, angering some fans who wonder what that means for Donatella.
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| Donatella Versace presented Versace's 2019 spring-summer collection in Milan last week |
MICHAEL Kors is buying the Italian fashion house Versace in a deal worth more than $US2 billion ($A2.75 billion), continuing its hard charge into the world of high-end fashion.
The deal announced on Tuesday comes just 14 months after the New York handbag maker spent $US1.35 billion ($A1.86 billion) adding to its portfolio Jimmy Choo, the shoemaker that rocketed to fame on the high heels of Sex and the City.
Creative director, Donatella Versace, has run Versace since the 1997 murder of her brother Gianni.
She called the sale a “very exciting moment” and said it would “allow Versace to reach its full potential”.
Donatella will continue to lead Versace’s “creative vision”, said Michael Kors chief executive John Idol.
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| Versace was founded in 1978 by its late director, Gianni. |
Mr Idol said Versace represented the “epitome of Italian fashion luxury” and its acquisition was an important milestone for the company, which is being renamed Capri Holdings.
Like others in the fashion industry, Michael Kors Holdings Ltd is trying to fire up sales by cranking up the glamour.
Tapestry, once known as Coach, acquired Kate Spade last year. Like Coach, Michael Kors is changing its name as it seeks to reframe how people in perceive it.
Michael Kors is still the chief creative director and the honorary chairman, but his company will be renamed Capri Holdings Ltd as it brings more big names under its umbrella, it was announced on Tuesday.
Bringing in Versace adds a layer of glitter to the company, which sells handbags for less than $US500 ($A700). Versace bags can fetch five times that figure. Versace’s flamboyant styles have invoked collective gasps, perhaps most notably when Jennifer Lopez appeared at the 2000 Grammy Awards in a navel-bearing dress. Versace’s latest styles include midi-dresses with baroque print for $US2950 ($A4000), and vinyl skinny jeans for $US1250 ($A1700).
Versace becomes the latest major Italian fashion house to be folded into the portfolio of a foreign entity, a trend that has raised no shortage of concern about the future of the made-in-Italy marquee.
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| Gianni and Donatella Versace in 1995. The designer was brutally murdered in 1997. |
French conglomerates have been the biggest buyers, with Kering buying Gucci, Bottega Veneta and Pomelato and LVMH taking on Bulgari and Loro Piana. The Qatari royal family owns Valentino.
Gianni Versace founded the brand in 1978, becoming a major force bringing to prominence Milan ready-to-wear and serving as a daring, sexy counterpoint to Giorgio Armani’s more subdued elegance.
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| Donatella Versace will remain as the company’s creative director |
Gianni Versace’s flashy, rock ‘n ‘roll designs and Medusa logo became emblematic of a generation led by Princess Diana and Madonna. He also helped create supermodels, like Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford and Claudia Schiffer and was the first to bring celebrities to the front row.
The family-run business was thrown into chaos with Versace’s murder 21 years ago. His sister, Donatella Versace, took over creative direction, while his brother Santo continued on the business side. It had been eyeing a public listing for several years.
The Versace family still controls 80 per cent of the company. The investment firm Blackstone owns the remaining 20 per cent.
Donatella Versace presented her latest collection for next spring and summer last Friday during Milan Fashion Week.
“This is a very exciting moment for Versace,” she said. “It has been more than 20 years since I took over the company along with my brother Santo and daughter Allegra.”
Donatella, who holds a 20 per cent stake in the business, will stay onboard as creative director and the family will become shareholders in the larger business. Santo now holds a 30 per cent stake and Allegra, 50 per cent. “With the full resources of our group, we believe that Versace will grow to over $2 billion in revenues,” said John Idol, chairman and CEO of Michael Kors. “We believe that the strength of the Michael Kors and Jimmy Choo brands, and the acquisition of Versace, position us to deliver multiple years of revenue and earnings growth.”
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| Jennifer Lopez, pictured at the Grammys in 2000, pictured in that famous Versace dress |
Kors said on Tuesday that it plans to open 100 new Versace stores (there are 200 in operation) at the same time that it amplifies online sales of the brand. Still, Versace’s sales have been slowing and despite some progress, Michael Kors hasn’t fully rebounded from a slump. It’s trying rebuild its reputation after broadly distributing its products to department stores and outlet malls, which damaged its image.
Keeping the family involved and Donatella as the creative engine at Versace are both good ideas, said Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData Retail. The size of the company will provide Versace with a more global reach, especially in Europe and Asia, he said.
“All that said, we maintain our view that Versace is not a perfect operation,” Saunders said.
“While it is iconic and high-profile, there is a lot of work to be done to position it for higher growth. This will absorb both time and money from the group and has to be done in tandem with the ongoing efforts to put Michael Kors firmly on the right track.”
The deal is expected to close in the fiscal fourth quarter. Shares of Kors rose almost 2 per cent before the opening bell.
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