The history of the development of the Gucci Fashion House. Details about each stage

The young Italian Guccio Gucci opened his first leather goods store in Florence in 1922. Things quickly went uphill, they learned about the Gucci brand in Italy, and then throughout Europe. The eldest son Aldo (and Guccio had six children in total) actively helped his father. In 1933, he came up with the brand's logo: two letters GG, speaking of Guccio Gucci, founder and father. By the way, in the beginning the "stirrups" of GG were not turned towards each other.

The brand was inspired by horse racing

Gucci stores sold horse harness, leather, high quality, and other equipment for riders. This is now reminiscent of fittings and prints in the form of stirrups, snaffles. The brand remembers and honors its history. Charlotte Casiraghi, a princess and an excellent rider, became the face of the first Gucci cosmetic line for a reason.

Legendary loafers are over 60 years old

Gucci loafers with a metal buckle were born in 1953. Aldo Gucci, the son of the founder of the brand, decided to expand the business and switched to shoes. These loafers successfully celebrated their 60th anniversary with a separate exhibition in 2013. And they will, we are sure, live as much more, and even longer.

Bamboo Bag: a matter of chance

This bag, made in the form of a saddle, appeared in 1947. The famous bamboo handle arose from the lack of other material in the Italian factory: the time was post-war. Now bags, umbrellas, furniture have bamboo handles ...

Flora: flowers for a princess

The Flora print, another Gucci legend, was introduced in 1966. It was created especially for Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco. Grace visited a Gucci boutique but couldn't decide on a headscarf. Rudolfo Gucci called illustrator Vittorio Accornero and he created the drawing literally overnight. The handkerchief that Grace received as a gift she liked very much.

Based on the history of the Gucci family, you can make a movie with Italian passions

And this movie will have, alas, not the happiest ending. After the death of Guccio Gucci, his sons, Aldo and Rudolfo, received 50 percent of the shares in the campaign. Aldo's son Paolo, having matured, wanted to produce products under his own name, for which he was fired by his father from all posts in the fashion house. The vengeful Paolo reported to the tax office about some of his father's financial frauds, he was convicted. Paolo himself did not differ in great honesty either, for example, he evaded paying alimony.

Not all was well in the second branch of this family either. The son of Rudolfo Maurizio was accused of forging his father's will (sentenced to a year in prison, Maurizio fled). As a result, Maurizio, left alone at the head of the Gucci house, sold out all the shares. Maurizio's life ended tragically: he was shot dead near the Milan office of Gucci. Blame it on his ex-wife.

Gucci is bad form?

In the 80s, the fashion house was in crisis, and many small firms received the right to produce products with the Gucci logo. As a result, low-quality, cheap products with the logo of the famous Italian brand appeared on sale. For a time, Gucci became associated with cheap knockoffs. Alas.

Gucci and Tom Ford

In 1994, Tom Ford came to Gucci and became what the brand lacked so much. The designer modernized the brand, developed the DNA of the brand, not forgetting the "equestrian" history, but focusing on sensual, shining, bold outfits. It was a ten-year, very fruitful union that gave the brand a second wind.

Ask the most desperate fashionista about what bag she dreams about every night this season. We're willing to bet it's Dionysus by Gucci. Thanks to the extraordinary talent of creative director Alessandro Michele, the iconic label has become even more popular, returned to the covers of fashion magazines and drove celebrities crazy. Surely someone, inspired by the new sound of the brand, pulled out a vintage grandmother's shopper the size of an impressive laptop from the depths of the closet (and someone always knew his price and did not lose).

But such legendary brands do not become famous overnight. The history of Gucci dates back to the 1920s, so you can spend a lot of time studying it. We'll recap the highlights with a selection of 19 facts from the label's biography.

What do the two "G"s in the logo stand for? It's Guccio Gucci!

Guccio Gucci began his journey in the fashion world with a suitcase craft

Guccio founded his empire in 1921 in Florence (Italy). Initially, the designer's job was to create suitcases, which is not surprising, because before that he served in the Savoy Hotel in London ... as an elevator operator! At that time, he met luxurious fashionistas (like Marilyn Monroe) and carried their suitcases, and later they flaunted in his accessories.

Gucci was inspired by horse racing

Horse harness - an unexpected source of inspiration

Surely now it will become very clear to many where the signature element of many Gucci accessories came from - it repeats horse bits and stirrups.

The first boutique in New York opened in 1953

This is how a crowd of fans greeted Grace Kelly at the Gucci boutique in Rome in 1959

And it was the first ever luxury Italian store to open in the United States of America. In the same year, Guccio Gucci died, and the management of the fashion house passed to his four sons. To date, the brand has about 550 boutiques around the world.

Iconic Gucci loafers appeared in 1932

These trendy loafers have a long and eventful history.

While modern examples of these incomparable shoes, worn on the feet of fashionistas, roam the streets of megacities in extravagant fur trim, their classic great-grandfathers are exhibited at the New York Museum of Modern Art.

Canvas began to be used during the Second World War

The Gucci symbol - red and green stripes - was born during the war years

Due to wartime material shortages, the Gucci team was forced to replace the leather with cotton canvas. It was then that the signature autograph of the brand was invented - red-green stripes.

Year of birth of bamboo handles - 1947

Bamboo handles of Gucci bags have stood the test of time and remain relevant to this day.

Casting and firing this piece began in the late 1940s, and it still looks unusual and stylish.

The brand has repeatedly collaborated with car brands

Road decoration - a car decorated with Gucci paraphernalia

In the early 70s, Gucci was commissioned to improve the look of the AMC Hornet. The result is a luxurious car adorned with red and green stripes and the Gucci crest.

Tom Ford was the label's art director from 1994 to 2005.

Tom Ford brings some American chic to the Italian brand

The designer modernized Gucci and propelled the brand to the pinnacle of success with his innovative American take on fashion.

Frida Giannini appointed creative director in 2005

Woman on the ship - to success: Frida Giannini fits perfectly into the Gucci team

She started working at Gucci in 2002. Then she was entrusted with the leadership of the women's line of ready-to-wear and accessories, but a year later the fragile, but very talented girl completely seized power in the fashion house.

In 1998, Gucci jeans entered the Guinness Book of Records.

Jeans are the head of everything: Gucci pays special attention to this indispensable part of the wardrobe

And this model was the most expensive pair of jeans: they were sold in Milan for a huge amount - 3134 dollars! The Gucci record was broken only in 2005 by Levi's pants, which went to an anonymous collector from Japan for $60,000. Subsequently, jeans in the Gucci lines were not embroidered or decorated as soon as they were (in the photo - a model from this year's interim collection), but the fact remains: denim has always meant a lot in the creation of Gucci women's clothes.

Among the most expensive brands Gucci ranked 38th

Gucci is one of the most expensive or, better to say, valuable brands.

This position was allocated to the brand in its list by Forbes magazine. The label is currently valued at $12.4 billion.

Gucci Group is not only Gucci

Under the wing of Kering there are many famous brands

The Gucci Group conglomerate, now called Kering, has brought together labels such as Bottega Veneta, Yves Saint Laurent, Stella McCartney, and Alexander McQueen under its roof.

In 2015, Alessandro Michele took over as brand designer

Alessandro Michele brings a bit of extravagance and extravagance to the Gucci house

A native Roman, Alessandro was previously a senior accessories designer at Fendi and also worked for the Tom Ford brand in 2002.

In the autumn collection of 2016 Michele presented a new vision of the brand

The full versatility of Michele's talent was revealed in his latest collection for Gucci

The first few lines were just a rehearsal. In the latter, Alessandro revealed himself completely (and Gucci along with him).

The label is open for the most unexpected collaborations

High fashion + street art = friendship. Gucci knows the secret to success lies in being open to unexpected partnerships.

For the fall 2016 collection, Michele collaborated with GucciGhost, also known as Trouble Andrew, a graffiti artist who painted shoppers, shoulder bags and even midi skirts in a hooligan way.

Dionysus - the bag that all fashionistas dream of

The Dionysus bag is a Gucci style dream

There is enough variety of variations of this accessory: one bag is decorated with plants, the other - with birds, the third - with insects. But each of them very quickly finds its mistress, whether it be a celebrity or a street fashion star.

Gucci dress obsession

At Jimmy Fallon's studio, Dakota Johnson "met" the perfect Gucci dress accessory

The dress from the spring collection of 2016 managed to appear on the covers of three magazines, and TV presenter Jimmy Fallon was able to evaluate it live when Dakota Johnson came to his studio in just such an outfit. With the yellow phone on Fallon's desk, the dress looked just perfect.

The brand has been cooperating with UNICEF since 2005

Gucci donates a percentage of sales to a foundation dedicated to education, health and clean water for African children suffering from HIV and AIDS. In 2008, with this Rihanna ad, the brand introduced a new collection, part of the proceeds from which went to help those in need.

Gucci opens label museum in Italy

The doors of the Gucci house opened in the distant 20s, and now it's time to open a whole museum

The Gucci Museum is spread over 1715 square meters within the walls of the Palau de Commerce in Florence. Its collection spans 90 years of the brand's history.

The Gucci House can be compared to a long-lived man - 90 years of a bright and extraordinary life. But this is the difference between a fashion brand and a person: the former can outlive the latter by two or even three times. Let Gucci survive at four. For this, he has everything: the label is open to the most talented and extraordinary designers, it feels changes in trends, and most importantly, it knows how to remain the cherished dream of millions.

A bit of Gucci history
Born in 1881, the son of artisan Guccio Gucci founded the Gucci House and opened saddlery shops in Florence in 1906. Guccio at the beginning of his career was engaged in the production of leather goods. He started selling leather rider bags in the 1920s, as his clients used horses and needed great leather bags. In 1938, Guccio Gucci opened his first retail store on Via Condotti in Rome.

In 1947, the Gucci badge was quickly recognizable, at the same time a leather bag with a bamboo handle, fashionable for those times, was produced. In the 1950s, red-striped shoulder straps appear as a trademark, which were borrowed from his earlier work. It became the emblem of his leather moccasins.

Guccio Gucci created many of his early classics in the 1950s; such as luggage bags, ties, shoes and famous sports bags with bamboo handle. After his death in 1953, his family was able to take the hugely successful company to new heights by opening stores in Paris, Beverly Hills, London, Palm Beach, and Tokyo. In the 1960s, this led to an increase in the glory of the Gucci empire. Hollywood stars such as Grace Kelly, Peter Sellers and Audrey Hepburn have made the Gucci name synonymous with chic. Jack Kennedy helped the brand when he was photographed with a Gucci bag on his shoulder, which would become known as "Jackie O". The company later adopts the new "GG" logo.

But along with the fame and recognition of the brand, some shocks came to the company. Although Gucci products were considered a symbol of the status of the time, the managers and the family did not quite agree and could not agree among themselves. Brother Maurizio Gucci took over and later sold the business to an Arab concern in the 80s.

In the 1990s, Tom Ford, Gucci's new chief executive, brought Gucci back to the center of chic, and now the company produces a variety of products, including leather, perfume, cologne, cosmetics, shoes (including moccasins with Gucci's distinctive ribbon)," Flora" foulard designed for Grace Kelly by Rodolfo Gucci (Rodolfo Gucci), suitcases, watches, jewelry, silk scarves, sporting goods, a belt with clasps (one with the initials Guccio Gucci, launched 1964), ties and glasses.

It is also necessary to mention Gucci Perfumes and Colognes for men and women.

Perfume was created in 1997. Gucci Envy by Gucci is a romantic blend of magnolia, jasmine, violet, iris, sandalwood, musk, vetiver and moss.
The Envy series continued with wonderful fragrances (2004) and (2006). In many respects, the initial and final notes are similar, but at the same time, the final aromas are completely uniquely different.

Created by Gucci in 1999. Rush is a blend of floral notes and spices including gardenia, sandalwood, vanilla, patchouli.

In 2001, Gucci repeated the success of Rush and released a new fragrance. This time it included: narcissus, lily of the valley, palm tree. Heart notes: freesia, rose, gardenia. Final note: blackcurrant, musk, oakmoss.

Of the latest innovations, the following should be noted:

The fragrance of 2010 has managed to please many as the fragrance of glamor and wealth. Guilty is a floral oriental composition with notes of mandarin, pink pepper, peach, lilac, geranium, amber, patchouli.

For men, in turn, it is popular. Because he drives women crazy. It is enriched with masculine scents such as olive wood, violet and tobacco leaves, red pepper, myrrh and black tea. Although it was released in 2006, it is still popular and in demand.

Of the recent men's Gucci fragrances, it is also impossible not to mention. Released in 2008, this is a fragrance with a truly masculine character. He, as the final touch, completes the portrait of a strong, elegant and self-confident man of today. The intriguing freshness of bergamot, the gracefulness of cypress and the noble tenderness of violet flow smoothly into the heady ethereal aroma of patchouli, abra and elemi oils, and the sensitive plume of tobacco haze will enchant and intoxicate everyone who comes into contact with it.

Gucci Womenswear Collection, Milan Fashion Week
(collection spring-summer 2013)

Gucci- Italian fashion house, founded in the early 20th century and still existing today, is known for its clothing, perfumes, accessories and textiles.

Aldo Gucci is a talented businessman and designer

Aldo Gucci is a follower of his father, Guccio Gucci, who was the creator of the brand, who first opened a store in 1938. Thanks to Aldo, the Gucci brand became world famous and began to produce not only bags and clothes, but also watches, ties and silk scarves. In 1942, the question of conquering America arose for Aldo, and in 1953 the first store was opened in New York on one of the main streets of the city, it was then that everyone learned what the two intertwined letters GG, which the whole fashion world worships today, mean. Later, stores were opened in Hong Kong, Paris and London.

Aldo Gucci was not only an excellent businessman, but also a good designer. It was thanks to him that the famous bamboo bags were born, which are still loved today. For Gucci, it was important that every woman could walk with a bag that his company produces, so it was proposed to make bags from such democratic fabrics as linen, hemp and jute, because it was in wartime that there was a shortage of leather and expensive fabrics.

One of the heydays of the company during the reign of Aldo were the years from 1960 to 1970. It is worth noting that during this period, perfumes, watches and fur products began to be produced under the Gucci brand, and a little later the legendary moccasins with studded soles appeared. Thanks to the Kennedy couple, Gucci became popular not only among artists and singers, but also among politicians. JFK was seen wearing moccasins, and Jacqueline was holding a bag with a bamboo handle.

Symbols of the Gucci brand

Things that you will never confuse with other brands:

– Striped green and red webbing (Web), commonly found on bags, invented in the 1950s, referring to horseback riding. Such strips were used and are used to create bags, various accessories and shoes.

– A bag with a straw handle, created in 1947, has long been a symbol of the brand. Straw accents were subsequently used to create umbrellas and shoes.
- A Flora flower scarf that was specially designed for Grace Kelly. The history of creation is simple: once Kelly visited the store and asked to sell her a beautiful scarf, but there was no such thing in the store, as Rodolfo Gucci considered. The very next day, a sketch was created, which is currently used not only as a print for a scarf, but also for accessories.
- Diamante fabric - was invented in wartime and was a diamond-shaped pattern. At first it was used exclusively for suitcases, but in 2010 a collection of bags made of this fabric was released, which are still popular to this day.

Gucci: from the past to the present

The Gucci House is a family business that has been in existence for over 100 years. Despite all the ups and downs, the bankruptcy that has almost come, the division of the state by the heirs, all the same, Gucci today is a symbol of fashion, beloved by stars and ordinary people. The magic monogram with the letters G is unmistakable, and all over the world this Gucci brand is symbolized with luxury and glamour.

Today, the Gucci brand does not belong to this family, but creative director Frida Giannini still draws inspiration from the past. So, the famous metal buckle from bags switched to shoes, bags with a bamboo handle are still produced, when creating a collection of clothes, they are used, which were inspired by the Flora pattern, and stripes of bright colors are reminiscent of Web stripes.