Gianni Versace was born in Reggio Calabria, Italy, in 1946. After apprenticeship with his mother he started working as a freelance designer and at the age of 25 Versace created ready-to-wear collections for the top fashion houses of the time, including Genny, Complice and Callaghan. In 1978 he founded his own company with the help of his brother, and just a few years later, following on from a successful women's fashion collection, the first Versace fragrances were released, expanding the luxury associated with his clothing to a whole new realm.
In the eighties and nineties of the last century, Versace would become a top name in the field of fragrances. Top scents of the era included Versus, a Versace perfume for hair with plum, cedar, rose, iris, amber and musk, and Blonde, a white floral made to honor Versace's sister Donatella. The Jeans line was also a standout during this period, including the invigorating Blue Jeans Versace cologne for him, as well as the citrusy, spicy Green Jeans. Gianni Versace died in 1997, but his legacy continues.