Gianni Versace was born in Reggio Calabria, Italy, on December 2, 1946. After an apprenticeship at his mother's dressmaking business, he began working as a freelance designer. At age 25, Versace was creating collections for top fashion houses of the time, including Genny, Complice and Callaghan. In 1978, with the help of his brother, Santo, he founded the Gianni Versace company. Later that year, the first Gianni Versace collection for women was shown in Milan. Gianni's bold creative genius consistently challenged the boundaries of the fashion industry. His distinctive cuts, vibrant prints and unconventional materials brilliantly united high art and contemporary culture, and he quickly earned international praise. Four years later, Versace won the L'Occhio d'Oro for the best fashion designer for his Fall/Winter collection, displaying the now famous metal garments made of light aluminium mesh. In 1989, Versace presented Versus, a new line for young people looked after by Gianni's sister Donatella. A year after that, Versace launched his Classic V2 line and his Signature line which interpreted his vision in easier versions.