Donatella Versace announces scholarship for Central Saint Martins’ MA Fashion students

On Friday afternoon, at Central Saint Martins, Donatella Versace announced the Gianni Versace Scholarship which aims to provide “comprehensive financial support” to one student starting the MA Fashion course each year, starting this autumn. In a move that sees the designer commemorating the 20-year anniversary of her late-brother’s murder outside his Miami mansion, the news was announced at an intimate press conference alongside the course director Fabio Piras.

Versace, who was in London ahead of the Versus show (also held at CSM yesterday), stated in a press conference held at the school on Friday that “Central Saint Martins has educated some of the most talented designers in the world, many of whom have worked for me,” adding that she has “always been an advocate of supporting the industry’s young talent, and it is a pleasure to be doing this scholarship.” This is not the first time Donatella has championed young talent – she previously hired Christopher Kane and Jonathan Anderson in the early stages of their careers and is a founding member of the Central Saint Martins 20:20 Fashion Fund.