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Fall or rise of Versace? o Italian giant may return to former glory after becoming part of fashion house Prada

I TALIAN fashion giant Versace, the long-held family business known for its flashy, sexy designs and Medusa head logo, will now become part of Prada, its larger rival and polar opposite in terms of style. The €1.25 billion (RM5.94 billion) acquisition, announced on April 10, aims to breathe new life into Versace, whose highs and lows have included the 1997 murder of its founder Gianni Versace, and the stewardship of the brand’s legacy by his sister Donatella. Here are five things to know about the Milan-based luxury brand: Gianni Versace, stylist of stars Born in Calabria, southern Italy, to a dressmaker mother, Gianni began designing clothes at a young age and moved to fashion capital Milan when he was 25. In 1978, he presented his first signature collection, with his brother Santo taking care of the label’s business arm. “He was a 360-degree creator, a real artist, he had a pure creative vision on colours and materials,” said Stefania Saviolo, who is a director of the luxury and fashion centre at Bocconi University. Versace wowed the showbiz world, dressing A-listers from Madonna to Elton John and getting 1980s supermodels such as Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell and Cindy Crawford to strut their stuff down the catwalk for him. Liz Hurley dress Gianni’s collections were colourful, sexy and over the top. His designs mixed baroque prints, animal skin motifs, bondage-style leather, slits and especially, ultra-tight fits. WEARING an ultra-constraining sports bra may seem like a good idea when thinking about how to get adequate support while moving. However, in the long term, it could actually be harmful to back health. A British study published in the European Journal of Sport Science challenges the idea that maximum support is always beneficial. It shows that wearing a bra maximises bounce reduction during physical exercise could, over time, increase the risk of back pain. For years, sports bra manufacturers have touted “maximum support” as essential for optimal comfort and performance. However, researchers at the University of Portsmouth have revealed an unexpected phenomenon. Slight movement of the chest during running helps absorb shock, acting as a natural shock absorber for the spine. This discovery calls into question current standards in sports underwear design. Their research is based on computer modelling of the female anatomy in motion. To refine their observations, they designed a first-of its-kind articulated musculoskeletal model incorporating sliding joints between the breasts and the torso. This innovative approach made it

Donatella Gianni’s muse and confidante Donatella had worked for 14 years at the side of her older brother and sunk into depression after his death, going into rehab for drug addiction in 2004. Eternally tanned with dyed blonde hair and a penchant for plastic surgery, she was initially dismissed as a lightweight substitute for her brother. But with time, the younger Versace rose to the challenge, producing her own showstopping creations, such as the barely-there green chiffon jungle dress worn by Jennifer Lopez at the 2000 Grammy Awards. After nearly 30 years as artistic director, the 69-year-old stepped down last month, handing the reins to Prada’s Miu Miu former design director Dario Vitale. Donatella remains Versace’s brand ambassador. New spark Since the US holding company Capri Holdings acquired Versace for about €1.8 billion in 2018, it has lost some of its luster. “The Versace brand has become too commercial. Prada can allow it to return to its golden age and reconnect with its luxury DNA,” said fashion consultant Antonio Bandini Conti. Prada’s deeper pockets will help the brand compete in an increasingly crowded field of well-funded luxury brands, dominated by France’s LVMH fashion conglomerate. Most recently, Versace posted US$193 million (RM810 million) in revenue for its fiscal 2025 third quarter, down 15% from the period a year earlier. – AFP

Donatella remains Versace’s brand ambassador. – AFPPIC

At the 1994 premiere of Four Weddings and a Funeral , he dressed actress Liz Hurley in a famously suggestive black dress. Made from silk and lycra, with a sharply plunging neckline and a long slit up the side, the dress was held together by several oversize golden safety pins. The dress catapulted Hurley, then romantically involved with actor

when the brand was at its height. Gianni’s younger sister Donatella, then in charge of the lower-cost Versus line, took over as artistic director, while Santo kept control of the business side of the enterprise. But the Versace brand’s power shrank as management teams succeeded one after the other, employees were laid off and boutiques closed.

Hugh Grant, to fame and became simply known as “THAT dress”. Death and fall On July 15, 1997, Gianni was shot dead by luxury-obsessed serial killer Andrew Cunanan as he returned to his luxury villa in Miami after buying his morning papers. The killing shocked the worlds of fashion and show business at a time

Sports bra with excessive bounce reduction may be hurting your back possible to simulate the effects of different types of bras on a moving body.

A volunteer wearing a size 34DD was fitted with 59 anatomical markers before running on force platforms. Three conditions were tested – without a bra, with a conventional bra and with a sports bra. A fourth, more extreme bra situation was also simulated to produce total elimination of breast movement. Their findings were clear – when breast movement is completely restricted, the pressure exerted on the lumbar spine increases significantly. In particular, the lower back is subjected to stress greater than 0.05 Nm/kg, a threshold already recognised in scientific literature as being associated with the onset of back pain. Another striking finding concerns the influence of bra type on posture. Participants stood approximately 4 degrees straighter when wearing a sports bra compared with running without a bra. This may seem like a minor detail but it is essential, as good posture helps prevent injuries. This study does not call into question the usefulness of sports bras, but rather offers some thoughts on how support is designed. Although reducing breast movement

According to a study, wearing a bra that maximises bounce reduction during physical exercise could, over time, increase the risk of back pain. – PICS FROM PEXELS

Another striking finding concerns the influence of bra type on posture.

exercise, it is essential to find a bra that can absorb shocks while allowing freedom of movement. This compromise could well transform the comfort and performance of female athletes for years to come. – ETX Studio

increasing the risk of back pain,” explained University of Portsmouth sports and exercise science senior lecturer in Dr Chris Mills in a statement. For women with large breasts, who are often prone to pain during

may help reduce discomfort, overly constricting support could, conversely, be harmful to the back. “While a supportive sports bra is crucial for exercise comfort, excessive bounce reduction may place additional strain on spinal muscles,