Versace Confirms Pieter Mulier’s Atelier Couture Debut at Paris Couture Week

Versace has confirmed that it will return to the haute couture runway in January 2027, with Pieter Mulier presenting his debut collection for Atelier Versace during Paris Couture Week. The Italian fashion house announced the show in a statement, a moment that carries weight for its creative transition following its acquisition by Prada Group last year.

A Return to the Official Couture Calendar

The presentation will be Atelier Versace’s first dedicated couture runway show since July 2016. In the years since, the house has kept its couture business alive through private client orders and red-carpet appearances, but the return to the official calendar points to renewed ambitions for the atelier under Mulier’s leadership. Versace has not yet announced the exact date or venue of the show.

Paris Couture Week is scheduled to run from January 25 to 28, 2027, in the French capital. Versace confirmed that its presentation will take place during the event, with further details to be shared in due course.

The Atelier's History

The return adds another chapter to Atelier Versace’s history, which began under founder Gianni Versace. The couture line presented its first collection in Paris in 1990, creating a platform for the house to explore intricate craftsmanship and more experimental designs. After periods of inactivity, Atelier Versace returned to the runway before staging its last dedicated couture presentation in July 2016.

Since then, the house has maintained a presence in haute couture through bespoke commissions and celebrity dressing. The January show will bring that work back to the runway and offer a public introduction to the atelier’s direction under its new creative leadership.

Pieter Mulier's First Major Statement

Versace and Prada Group announced Mulier’s appointment as Chief Creative Officer effective July 1, 2026, describing the choice as the beginning of a new chapter for the brand. Throughout his career, Mulier has shaped distinctive aesthetics and contributed to the success of brands including Raf Simons, Jil Sander, Dior, Calvin Klein and, most recently, Alaïa, where he served as Creative Director.

Before his debut collection reaches the runway, Mulier has already offered a glimpse of his work through a red-carpet appearance by Nicole Kidman. The actress wore an asymmetric black lace gown from Atelier Versace to the Los Angeles premiere of “Practical Magic 2” on August 31. The look provided an early indication of Mulier’s approach to the house, with its emphasis on a dramatic silhouette and intricate detailing.

The couture collection will give the designer a larger platform to establish his interpretation of Versace’s aesthetic. Known for his work at Alaïa, Mulier brings experience in sculptural construction and precise craftsmanship to a house historically associated with sensual silhouettes, bold glamour and a strong relationship with celebrity culture. His appointment has drawn attention to how those different design sensibilities might come together, and the January presentation will provide the first substantial runway indication of the direction he intends to take.

Prada Group Ownership and the Brand's Next Chapter

The announcement comes as Versace enters a new phase under Prada Group, which acquired the Italian fashion house in 2025 in a deal worth almost $1.4 billion. Mulier’s debut is expected to provide the first major public signal of the brand’s creative direction under its new ownership.

Prada Group chairman and executive director Patrizio Bertelli has previously highlighted the companies’ shared commitment to creativity, craftsmanship and heritage. He said the objective was to continue Versace’s legacy while celebrating and reinterpreting its bold, timeless aesthetic.

Prada Group chief executive officer Andrea Guerra also offered an update on the integration during the company’s recent nine-month financial reporting. Guerra said the process was progressing in the right direction, noting that the group was beginning to see the shape of upcoming collections and evaluate finished products rather than simply discuss ideas. The return of Atelier Versace provides an opportunity to put those ambitions into practice, and couture could serve as an initial platform for defining the house’s visual direction before Mulier’s ready-to-wear collections reach a wider market.

What the January Debut Means for Versace

The timing of the presentation places Versace back in the spotlight during the winter couture season, which overlaps with Hollywood’s awards calendar. Given the house’s established relationships with celebrities and its continued couture dressing, the collection could generate further attention through red-carpet appearances and other high-profile moments.

The runway debut, however, will be only one part of the brand’s broader transition. The longer-term challenge will be translating the creative direction introduced through couture into ready-to-wear, accessories and other products while maintaining Versace’s distinctive identity.

For now, the confirmed return of Atelier Versace establishes January as an important date for the house. Mulier’s debut at Paris Couture Week will offer the clearest indication yet of how he plans to reinterpret the label’s heritage and shape its future under Prada Group ownership.