Versace has appointed Pieter Mulier as Chief Creative Officer, effective July 1, marking a major shift for the Italian house as it enters a new chapter under the Prada Group. The designer will succeed Dario Vitale and report directly to Versace executive chairman Lorenzo Bertelli.
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Bertelli said the decision had been in the making for some time, noting that discussions around creative direction began as early as autumn 2024. “When we considered the Versace acquisition, we identified Pieter Mulier as the right person for the brand,” he said in a statement. “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.”
Mulier will conclude his tenure at Maison Alaïa following the house’s Summer–Fall 2026 show during Paris Fashion Week in March. Alaïa confirmed his departure last week, bringing to a close a five-year period during which Mulier reshaped the brand’s direction and visibility. Since joining Alaïa in 2021, the Belgian designer has been widely credited with reenergizing the house through sculptural silhouettes, architectural construction, and sharply defined accessories, while maintaining a clear focus on the female form.
Before Alaïa, Mulier was best known as a long-time collaborator and key deputy to Raf Simons, working alongside him at Jil Sander, Christian Dior, and later at Calvin Klein, where he served as creative director overseeing both men’s and women’s collections under Simons’ leadership. The two designers remain close, and Mulier is a regular presence at Prada’s Milan shows, where Simons now shares creative direction with Miuccia Prada, a connection that industry observers believe helped spark Bertelli’s interest.
At Alaïa, Mulier’s impact extended beyond design. Parent company Compagnie Financière Richemont has cited Alaïa as a notable growth driver in recent financial reports, with the house reportedly more than doubling in size during his tenure. His work attracted a younger audience while retaining longtime clients, positioning Alaïa as one of the most closely watched fashion houses of recent seasons.
Mulier’s appointment comes less than a year after the Prada Group completed its acquisition of Versace from Capri Holdings for an enterprise value of €1.25 billion. Shortly after the acquisition, Donatella Versace stepped back from her role as creative director after nearly three decades, taking on the position of chief brand ambassador.
Sources close to the group suggest Bertelli’s aim is to steer Versace toward a direction more closely aligned with the visual codes established by Gianni and Donatella Versace, reinforcing the house’s sensuality, strength, and graphic power. Mulier’s debut collection for Versace is expected to arrive later this year, as the brand prepares to reassert its position within the global fashion conversation under new creative leadership.
