Versace has appointed Pieter Mulier as its new creative director, the Italian fashion house said on Feb. 5. Mulier, the outgoing designer at Alaia, will assume the role in July as Versace moves to reset its creative leadership under new ownership.
Prada completed its acquisition of Versace in December, having purchased the business from Capri Holdings. Prada has signalled an intention to relaunch Versace after the label experienced a downturn in sales under its previous owner. In announcing Mulier's appointment, Lorenzo Bertelli - Versace's executive chairman and son of Prada owners Miuccia Prada and Patrizio Bertelli - said Mulier was the right person to "unlock Versace’s full potential and engage in a fruitful dialogue with the brand’s strong legacy".
Mulier joins Versace after a tenure at Alaia, the Parisian fashion house owned by Richemont. Alaia said last month that Mulier would depart following its Paris Fashion Week show in March. The Belgian designer became Alaia's creative lead in 2021. Before that role he served as global creative director at Calvin Klein and earlier worked as design director at Christian Dior.
The appointment follows the exit of Dario Vitale, Versace's previous creative director, who left the brand at the end of 2025 after only a few months in the position. Prada's acquisition and the change in creative leadership form part of a concentrated effort by the new owners to revive the brand's momentum amid weaker luxury demand.
In addition to the personnel and ownership shifts, the published material included a promotional reference to investor tools. That content posed the question whether ticker 1913 is a bargain, and highlighted a Fair Value calculator described as using 17 valuation models to assess stocks.
Context and implications
While Prada has moved quickly since completing the takeover in December, the firm has publicly positioned Mulier's appointment as a step toward restoring Versace's appeal. The incoming creative director's background at Alaia, Calvin Klein and Christian Dior is cited as part of the rationale for his selection.
Timing - Mulier will begin his role at Versace in July. Separately, his departure from Alaia follows the Paris Fashion Week schedule, with his exit to take effect after the show's March presentation.