All About Gucci

Hello everyone and welcome back to my blog. I hope you are all doing well and are looking forward to the weekend ahead. Today I have another post about a designer brand and the founder of the company. Today it is 'All about Gucci' and how the brand was created. I hope you enjoy this post and learn more about one of the top fashion brands of the time. Enjoy...

Early Years:

The founder of Gucci is a man named Guccio Gucci who was born on the 26th March 1881 in Florence, Tuscany (Italy). As a teenager Guccio worked as a lift boy at the Savoy Hotel in London. It was there that he found his love for high-class fashion and luxury goods. He fell in love with luggage companies such as H.J. Cave & Sons which inspired him to create his own collection. It was then that he returned to his home country and started to create his own travel bags and accessories. This lead to the House of Gucci being founded in 1921. Back then the brand wasn't very well known so it actually started out as a small leather shop. Gucci started off his business by selling leather bags. People soon became aware of his business as it was known for it's high quality goods. 

Guccio Gucci

Evolution of Gucci Fashion House:

A few years later, after his reputation grew, Gucci expanded his business and build additional stores in Florence, Rome and Milan. It was then that his sons Aldo, Vasco, Ugo and Rodolfo started to help out and built up the company. In his stores he would sell finely crafted leather accessories including handbags, shoes and the iconic loafers. He also sold a few silk and knitwear pieces with signature patterns. During World War II Gucci had to compromise with the materials of his products. He had to create his handbags using a cotton canvas fabric instead of leather as there was a material shortage. Although this wasn't exactly what Gucci wanted his used the signature 'GG' symbol with red and green bands (inspired by the Italian flag) to help make his products stand out and fit with previous collections. Sadly on 2nd January 1953 Guccio Gucci passed away in Milan, Italy. It was then that two of Gucci's sons, Aldo and Rodolfo, expanded the company further by establishing offices in New York. It was also around this time that famous film stars were seem wearing Gucci's creation, bringing more customers and status to the brand. Gucci also started to be featured in magazines around the world where movie stars and models would pose in Gucci clothing, accessories and footwear. This lead to a huge growth in Gucci's reputation. 

1st Gucci Store

However by the 1980s the reputation of the Gucci brand started to go down hill. In 1983 Gucci's son Rodolfo passed away leaving the company in the hands of his son Maurizio Gucci. He dismissed his Uncle Aldo so he could carry on the company alone. However, he was very unsuccessful and in 1988 was forced to the sell the company to Investcorp. In 1989, Dawn Mello was brought in as the editor and ready-to-wear designer. Soon after she hired Tom Ford in 1990 to help design the ready-to-wear collections. He was then promoted to creative director in 1994 and Dawn Mello decided to leave. Before she left she moved the Gucci headquarters from Milan back to Florence to the root of the company. They then reduced the amount of Gucci products created from 20,000 to 5,000. By 1997 the Gucci brand had 76 store world wide.

Dawn Mello

Tom Ford

In 2005 a new creative director was appointed for the womens read-to-wear collections and accessories. After joining the Gucci team in 2002 Frida Giannini was offered the position in 2005. In 2006 she was also appointed the creative director for men's ready-to-wear and eventually the entire Gucci brand. Giannini stayed head of the brand until 2014 where Marco Bizzarri was appointed CEO of the Gucci brand. In 2017, Bizzarri said "Being socially responsible is one of Gucci's core values, and we will continue to strive to do better for the environment and animals," and therefore fur would be banned from Gucci collections as of 2018.

Frida Giannini 

Marco Bizzarri

Evolution of Gucci Products:

Gucci used a range of different animal skins such as: pigskin, calf and exotic creatures in his designs. He also used waterproof canvas and satins for evening bags. Bamboo was also a popular choice and used for handles and shoulder straps. In 1964 silk scarfs were custom-made with beautiful butterfly prints along with a stunning floral design. The iconic 'GG' logo was also added to belt buckles and other accessories. Gucci also updated it's loafer shoe in 1966, adding a snaffle-bit (metal detail on the toe) and introduced the 'Rolls Royce' luggage set in 1970. Quickly followed by watches, jewellery, ties and eyewear.

Silk Scarf

Iconic Gucci Belt

Snuffle-bit Loafers

Vintage Gucci Luggage Set

Current Gucci Products:

AS you can see, the current Gucci products are very similar to vintage Gucci pieces. Although they have been adapted and made to be more modern helping them fit with current trends. The original designs and details are still there, giving them a unique Gucci look.

Current Gucci Scarf

Popular Gucci Belt

Stunning Gucci Loafers

Updated Gucci Luggage Set

So that is all I have for you today about Guccio Gucci and his famous fashion house. I hope you enjoyed this post and learned a little more behind the scenes of the brand. If you want to see more posts like this then make sure you head back to my blog every Friday for more. If you are also interested in seeing outfit styling posts from my then make sure you head back to my blog every Wednesday as well. I hope you enjoy the rest of your day and I look forward to see you back here again soon...

Emma Victoria