Founded in 1989 as a gift by Gianni Versace to his sister, Donatella Versace, Versus (Versace) is a diffusion line of the famous Italian luxury fashion house, Versace. According to Gianni Versace when the line was introduced, he described it as, “Versus was born with an innate creative approach, with a strong focus on innovation, flair and the unconventional. An artistic force that takes present fashion forward, anticipating new trends and embracing challenge.”
The brand was shut down due to financial woes in 2005, but was later rebooted in 2009 with a new focus. On the other hand, it was once again discontinued in 2018 when Versace announced that the line will be absorbed by the Versace Jeans line (another line of the fashion house).
Despite the ups and downs of Versus (Versace), the question remains, was the brand considered a luxury or not during its course?
Is Versus (Versace) A Luxury Brand?
Versus is not a luxury brand. Instead, it is a diffusion line of the famous Italian luxury fashion house, Versace. Versus offer a much cheaper price range for its products compared to Versace. It aimed to target a younger audience with a more affordable price range without sacrificing the materials and craftsmanship.
1. The Overall Branding
While it is true that it is a sub-brand by Versace, Versus did not have the same sophistication and image that Versace has. The overall branding for Versus was more young, fresh, and edgy. It was geared towards a different audience than what Versace is aiming for.
2. The Product Offering
The product offering for Versus was also quite different from what Versace offers—more high-end and luxury items. On the contrary, Versus offered more casual and everyday wear during its course. The materials used for Versus products were also not on par with what is used for Versace products.
3. The Materials Used
This ties in with the previous point. The materials used for Versus products may be good but it was not one of the finest materials out there. This is one of the biggest indicators of whether a brand is a luxury or not.
4. The Overall Quality
This links back to the materials used. Because the materials used were not the best and most expensive ones, it takes away from the overall quality of the product. The stitching and construction might be good but it would not be on par with what you would get from a luxury brand.
5. The Price Range
Finally, the price range was also quite different. Versus products were more affordable compared to what Versace offers. This is one of the main reasons why it is not considered a luxury brand. Luxury brands offer items that are quite expensive and only accessible to a certain group of people.
Versus, on the other hand, is more affordable and accessible to a wider audience. It does not have the same exclusivity that luxury brands have.
Does Versus (Versace) Hold Value?
Versus doesn’t hold value like a luxury brand would. The products are not made with the same quality materials, and the overall branding is not as sophisticated. Because of this, Versus products depreciate in value quite quickly. They are not considered timeless pieces that you can keep for years and pass down to future generations.
And even though the brand has been discontinued, there’s no demand for Versus products on the secondary market. There are plenty of other brands that offer similar products at a lower price point. In short, the resale value for Versus products is quite low.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Versus Versace still exist?
No, Versus was discontinued in 2018 after Versace announced that the line will be absorbed by Versace Jeans. According to Fashion Network, Versus Versace was absorbed by the Versace Jeans as Versace wants to focus on one contemporary range alone.
What is the difference between Versace and Versus Versace?
The main difference between Versace and Versus is that Versus is the younger, more affordable line while Versace is the high-end line. Thus, both Italian brands are from the same company but they offer different types of clothing and accessories.
