To celebrate their ninetieth birthday, Gucci has created an exclusive editorial at Plazzo Alberini in Rome. Lead by Frida Giannini since 2006, the label remains the top Italian selling luxury brand worldwide. To read an interview with Frida, see Dazed and Confused Magazine.
A bit about Gucci
Gucci was started in 1921 in Florence by Guccio Gucci after he was inspired while living in London and Paris. After returning from his travels he started a leather goods shop based in Florence. He placed emphasis on creating goods that were hand crafted rather than mass produced. With help from his sons Aldo, Vasco, and Rodolfo he expanded his company to Rome and Milan. His production focused on handbags, purses, knitwear and loafers.
Interesting enough, during the second world war, he produced handbags with cotton canvas as opposed to leather to cut costs. They survived and continued on their quest for expansion. Aldo and Rodolfo successfully broke into the international market and in 1953, they established a store in New York.
The company enjoyed very a very successful period during the 1970's but suffered from family feuds in the 1980's. Rodolfo's son became the director in 1983 after his father's passing and immediately fired Aldo (Rodolfo's brother). Maurizio was very unsuccessful and sold the company to Investcorp, a company based in Bahrain, in 1988. By 1993 he had sold off all of his stock. Turns out Marizio was later murdered in Milan in 1995 and it was his former wife, Patrizia Reggiani who orchestrated it all. After scandal and a very tumultuous time for the Gucci Company, Domenico De Sole, the family lawyer was appointed president and then chief executive in 1994 and 1995.
In 1990 Tom Ford was hired to help resurrect the brand and by 1994 he oversaw the entire company. Did you know that Tom Ford and Domenico De Sole worked together to acquire Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche, Bottega Veneta, Boucheron, Sergio Rossi and part-ownership of Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen and Balenciaga. I had no idea! Unfortunately in 2003, Pinault-Printemps-Redouté, purchased 60 percent of the Gucci Group’s stock. Ford and Domenico worked together until 2004. Frida Gianini took over as Creative Director in 2005 and has been turning heads with her innovative and refreshing collections ever since!
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2 comments:
90 already! Mind you for a company that has had its bad moments and dramas within the family. they have done quite well and risen from ashes that was mass licencing etc in the 80's to be on top again.
Definitely! Now if I could just afford one of their bags!
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