Alfredo Versace
| Alfredo Versace | |
|---|---|
 A.Versace.jpg Designer, Alfredo Versace (Credits: Terence Gordon) | |
| Native name | Alfredo Versace |
| Born | Alfredo Michelangelo Antonio Versace Bianconovo, Italy |
| 🏡 Residence | New York, USA |
| 🏳️ Nationality | Italian American |
| 💼 Occupation | Entrepreneur and Designer |
Early Life[edit]
Alfredo Versace was born in the South of Italy, in a town named Bianconovo where many of his relatives lived. His father, Carmelo Versace, came from a nearby town named Bovolino. Gianni Versace, the famous fashion designer, was also born in Bovolino and the two were cousins. Growing up in Italy, Alfredo was surrounded by the fashion industry. His father's family had six siblings and his grandfather's family had another five children, many of whom worked in the fashion industry. This early exposure to the world of fashion would greatly influence Alfredo's future career.
Career[edit]
In 1952, Alfredo's father moved to the United States and became involved in the production of artificial flowers which were used in hats and dresses. Most evenings, he would bring home a box of flowers, stems, and wires, and the family would assemble them after dinner. One of the stores that bought these flowers was A & S Abraham and Strauss, a leading department store at the time. In 1957, the family moved to Coral Gables, Florida and Alfredo's father and his associate started a handbag company called Style Craft. This was Alfredo's first experience working with handbags and he quickly fell in love with the idea of creating them.
He opened his first store under the name A.V. Versace on 4th Avenue and Sackett Street in Brooklyn in the 1960s. The second store under the AV Versace name was opened on Crescent Street and Liberty Avenue, also in Brooklyn. These stores began to make garments for private sale, and Alfredo's first seamstress was named Maria. From that point on, he began to produce tops, pants, and skirts for women. In the early 1970s, Alfredo struggled to make a living and did construction work and tailoring on the side, especially in the summer. In 1975, he opened a showroom on Broadway and 29th Street in Manhattan with a partner named John Choi. They had connections in China and were able to produce a pair of jeans for a very low price, which they then sold to Guyana.
In 1987, Alfredo opened the Versace Boutique on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, across the street from Macy's. The store was a beautiful marble and brass space where they sold rare perfumes, women's gloves, scarves, and elegant tops and bottoms. Gianni Versace, who had just produced his first bottle of men's cologne, was a frequent visitor to the store.
During this time, Alfredo was also experimenting with different styles and designs for his clothing lines. He was heavily influenced by the Italian fashion scene and was always looking for ways to incorporate traditional Italian elements into his designs. He was particularly interested in the use of bright colors and bold patterns, which he believed reflected the energy and passion of the Italian culture.
In the 1990s, Alfredo expanded his business by opening stores in major cities across the United States, including Miami, Los Angeles, and Chicago. He also began to focus more on the high-end luxury market, creating exclusive collections of clothing, accessories, and perfumes.
In 2022 Alfredo won an award for his brilliance in design and also launched Due Facce which is the revitalized A.Versace Brand.
Personal Life[edit]
In addition to his successful fashion business, Alfredo was also a dedicated philanthropist. He believed in giving back to the community and was involved in a number of charitable organizations. He was particularly interested in supporting education and the arts.
As the years passed, Alfredo continued to grow his business and his reputation as a fashion icon. Despite his success, Alfredo never forgot his roots. He always remained humble and grounded, and never lost sight of the importance of family and tradition. He was a proud Italian and always honored his heritage through his designs.
