‘The old systems are collapsing’: Donatella Versace exclusive

In an exclusive interview with Luxury magazine, the inimitable designer acknowledges that digitalisation and social media are taking the fashion industry into new, uncharted territory.

"I cannot remember a time when fashion has been as exciting as it is today,” says Donatella Versace. Photo by Rahi Rezvani

The fashion industry is in a state of flux – and Donatella Versace could not be more excited.

In an exclusive interview with The National's Luxury magazine, out on February 2, Donatella Versace acknowledges that digitalisation and social media are taking the fashion industry into new, uncharted territory, but is disparaging of old-school fashion brands that are unwilling or unable to embrace change.

“The internet and social media have changed everything. The old systems are collapsing. For many people, they find it terrifying. They want everything in fashion to stay the same, as if smartphones had never been invented. I am the opposite. I cannot remember a time when fashion has been as exciting as it is today,” says the vice president and chief designer of Versace.

With initiatives such as See Now, Buy Now (which enables customers to buy collections immediately after they debut on the catwalk) currently revolutionising the way fashion is consumed, many designers are complaining that the current pace of the industry is unsustainable. But not Donatella.

“What will change is how we connect with our customers around the world. How we interact, how you shop, how you get involved in fashion, in ways that were unimaginable before. It makes life so exciting. Fashion is about moving forward. When people say fashion is moving too fast, I think we have to move faster and plan the future together.”

In the interview, the ever-controversial Versace also talks frankly about the challenges of being a woman in a high-powered industry. “Like any woman, I face assumptions about who I am and what I can do,” she says. “Women have to prove themselves more than men, have to fight to have their voices heard. Times have changed, and things are getting better for women. I’m an artistic director, I’m a businesswoman, I’m a mother, I’m an advocate for change, and I’m a friend. There is still room for improvement, but things are changing for the better.”

Read the full interview here.