Versace appoints Pieter Mulier as chief creative officer

MILAN: Versace has chosen Pieter Mulier to chart its next creative chapter, handing the Alaïa designer the role of chief creative officer as the Italian luxury house reshapes itself under Prada Group ownership.

The appointment, announced jointly by Prada Group and Versace, puts Mulier at the creative helm of one of fashion’s most recognisable brands, with a brief to honour its bold heritage while sharpening its future edge. Mulier will report to executive chairman Lorenzo Bertelli.

“When we considered the Versace acquisition, we identified Pieter Mulier as the right person for the brand. We believe that he can truly unlock Versace’s full potential and that he will be able to engage in a fruitful dialogue with the brand’s strong legacy. We are excited to begin this journey together,” Bertelli said.

Mulier arrives with decades of experience shaping distinctive aesthetics at some of the world’s leading fashion houses. Over his career, he has worked closely with Raf Simons and contributed to the success of brands such as Jil Sander, Dior and Calvin Klein.

After studying design and architecture, he was selected by Simons to join Jil Sander, serving as head of accessories, shoes and bags. He later became design director at Christian Dior, then global creative director at Calvin Klein, before taking on the creative director role at Maison Alaïa, where his work drew critical acclaim for modernising couture codes.

His move to Versace comes soon after Prada Group completed its acquisition of the label in December 2025. The deal, first announced in April 2025, saw Prada agree to buy 100 per cent of Versace from US-based Capri Holdings for about $1.38 billion. The transaction, one of the largest in Italy’s luxury sector in recent years, returned the Medusa-emblazoned house to Italian ownership.

For Versace, the message is clear: heritage will be protected, but the tempo will quicken. With Mulier in charge, the house is betting that disciplined design and fresh energy can turn legacy into momentum — and momentum into growth.