When you think of fashion’s most famous families, the Kardashian/Jenner clan, the Hadids and the Delevingnes might be the first ladies to come to mind. And while we love seeing a good Gigi and Bella campaign, there’s much more to fashion’s first families than a few famous models. They might have millions of Instagram followers, dozens of runways under their belt and multiple campaign slots, but the most powerful and influential families in fashion aren’t posing on the cover of your favorite mag or walking the runways at Fashion Week. They’re working behind-the-scenes, running the biggest houses in the industry and creating billion-dollar, multi-generational dynasties.
The Versaces
Founded in 1978 by Italian designer Gianni Versace, the Versace house quickly became known for their bright and colorful prints as well as their sexy, skin-baring cuts. But after Gianni’s sudden murder in 1997, the fate of the house was questioned. His younger sister Donatella immediately took control of the brand as creative director and Vice President of the Versace Group. The company is entirely family owned: after Gianni’s death Donatella inherited 20 percent of the brand, her older brother Santo Versace inherited 30 percent and Donatella’s daughter Allegra inherited a majority stake at 50 percent (estimated to be worth $800 million) on her 18th birthday. Preferring a life out of the limelight, she joined the Versace board of directors in 2011 and has since taken on more inconspicuous roles in the company in preparation for following in her mother's footsteps.
The Armanis
Giorgio Armani is the wealthiest fashion designer in the world, worth an estimated $6.1 billion. Of course with a massively successful business comes a number of responsibilities that Armani has delegated to his family members. Launching his label in 1975, he’s created an empire of fashion, home goods, hotels, restaurants and real estate that his family helps manage. His sister Rosana works at Armani as do two of his nieces, Silvana and Roberta, who will no doubt inherit the company upon his passing. As Armani is the sole proprietor of his company, chances are the brand will stay within the family for generations, and potentially create one of the most powerful legacies in fashion.
The Pradas
Before Prada was known for its eye-catching coats and must-have bags, it was a leather goods store in Milan that crafted luggage and steamer trunks for the city's elite. Founded in 1913 by Miucci’s grandfather, Mario Prada, and his brother Martino, the company was run for 45 years by the duo until Mario’s death in 1958. His daughter Luisa took over the company, and struggled to maintain the same success that her father and uncle had years prior. In 1977 her daughter, Miucci entered the family business in attempt to help revive the stagnant brand. Her first collection of bags in the ‘80s were met with mild success, but by the ‘90s she had begun garnering worldwide attention. With help from her husband, leather goods manufacturer Patrizio Bertelli, she turned the fledgling brand into a multi-billion dollar conglomerate. Their two sons, both in their 20s, have stayed out of the limelight, and have not announced whether or not they will be joining the family business.
The Ferragamos
Salvatore Ferragamo began making footwear at the age of nine, building his brand up over the years into a global success. After his death in 1960, his wife Wanda took over the business and continued to expand with the help of their six children. Originally all six were working for the company in some capacity as directors or chairmen, but now only two of the children remain: Ferruccio is the president and Massimo is chairman of Ferragamo USA. Several grandchildren are now employed by the company, working their way up through the ranks as Wanda has limited executive access for new generations, preferring they start at the bottom and educate themselves in every step of the business. With three generations currently employed at the label, she has suggested to her great grandchildren that they spend their summer vacations working at the factory in Osmannoro, where her children and grandchildren, all started their training.
The Missonis
There are currently three generations running the Missoni house today. Founded by Ottavio Missoni and his wife, Rosita in 1953, the line was started only five years after they opened their first knitwear workshop. After Ottavio and Rosita retired in the ‘90s, charge of the company was left up to their three children Angela, Luca and Vittorio, the latter of which served as CEO of the company until his death in the 2013 Missoni plane crash off the coast of Venezuela. Today Angela is the company's creative director, while Luca is in charge of archives and events. Angela's daughter Margherita produced her first accessory collection for the brand in 2011 and is currently an accessory designer within the company. Shortly after retirement, Rosita decided relaxation wasn’t for her, and returned to the label to found and design the Missoni Home collection.
The Arnaults
The Arnualts don’t need to be designers or own a family label to be one of the ruling families of fashion. The fashion tycoon Bernard Arnault is CEO of LVMH, the richest man in France and worth an estimated $34.4 billion. With a company that owns over 70 houses, Arnault is known for appointing his offspring leadership positions within the many labels that his conglomerate encompasses. His eldest daughter, Delphine Arnault is the expected successor of the LVMH empire, and is currently director and executive vice president of Louis Vuitton. Her younger brother, Antoine Arnault is currently CEO of Berluti and chairman of Loro Piana. With Delphine and Antoine (who is married to Russian model Natalia Vodianova) each recently having children of their own, chances are the Arnaut empire will be eventually be passed on to Bernard’s grandchildren.
The Fendis
Started in 1925 by Adele Casagrande, Fendi has been around for almost a century and has been passed down through four generations of power women. The fur and leather goods brand was popular in its native Italy, but didn’t become a global phenomenon until after Casagrande’s five daughters, Paola, Franca, Carla, Anna and Alda, otherwise known as the Fendi sisters, took over the company. They pushed for a more fashionable take on the house’s textiles and stamped their pieces with the now famous double-F insignia. After 11 children and 30 grandchildren, the sisters sold a 90 percent stake in the company to LVMH in 1999. Today only Silvia Venturini Fendi, Anna's daughter and creator of the Baguette, remains with the company. Her daughter, Delfina Delettrez is a jewelry designer who, in addition to building her own accessory line, also designs jewelry for Fendi’s collections.
