Gucci
Fendi
April 26, 2020Jil Sander
April 26, 2020
Gucci is an Italian luxury brand of fashion and leather goods founded by Guccio Gucci in Florence in 1921. After working at high-end hotels in London, Gucci returned to Italy and opened a small shop of leather goods and luggage, combining the aesthetics and style he observed in London with the traditional know-how of Italian leather craftsmen. After building his leather empire, he expanded his collection to womenswear. By the 1950s, Gucci’s leather items were the status symbol of the rich and famous. After Gucci’s death, the company struggled between family squabbles.
In the 90s, designer Tom Ford was hired as creative director of Gucci. His vision, combined with the business acumen of CEO Domenic deSole, revitalised the brand and created the fashion powerhouse that Gucci is today, pioneering a new era of sexed-up fashion with Ford's sensual white dresses and hyper seductive, sometimes scandalous womenswear. Fashion conglomerate Kering acquired a majority stake in the Gucci group in 2003.
Since the introduction of new creative director Alessandro Michele in 2015, the brand has gone in a new direction. Introducing his idiosyncratic sense of vintage style to the brand, Michele’s direction has led to the company's most impressive growth in 20 years, and has garnered a cult following amongst old and new customers.
Current Creative Director: Alessandro Michele
