When we think of high-end brands, Gucci is often one of the first that comes to mind.
While not everybody can afford to buy Gucci items, some consider the brand a wardrobe staple.
Here are 30 interesting facts you might not know about this high-end brand!
Gucci was founded in Italy in 1921.
Guccio Gucci was the main man behind the company. He established it in Florence when he was 40 years old.
The famous double G logo stands for Guccio Gucci.
Although Gucci began in Italy, a country known for its fashion, the style was inspired by those living in London and around England.
When it first began, the company manufactured quality leather luggage items. Handbags and briefcases are still some of the most popular Gucci items.
Gucci was inspired while working as an elevator operator in London’s swanky Savoy Hotel. There, he met global elites such as Winston Churchill, whose accessories inspired him to start his own brand.
Many celebrities worldwide are hardcore fans of this brand, including rapper 2 Chainz, who famously said, ‘When I die, bury me inside the Gucci store.’
Among Gucci’s first items were detachable leather bags for saddles. He sold them to keen horsemen in Italy.
It’s easy to figure out where the recognizable horse-bit logo came from. This logo was first seen in the 1950’s and has remained a key part of the brand ever since.
It was first seen on saddle bags before Gucci changed it to a silk addition and started using it on many other products, including jewelry and briefcases.
Until he died in 1953, Guccio Gucci personally managed the brand.
After his death, his sons took over the business and promoted the products among Hollywood celebrities.
The popular Gucci Hobo Bag was used by celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor.
Flora was a print-first seen on scarves and was specifically requested by Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco.
The scarf was designed by Rodolfo Gucci, one of Guccio’s sons.
Gucci did not create the GG logo himself. It was designed in 1960 to honor Guccio Gucci after his death.
Italy was under the rule of Dictator Benito Mussolini during the 1940s. The fascist regime made leather often very difficult to acquire, so many Gucci products were made using silk.
The 1980s saw Gucci almost go bankrupt after scandalous stories of the Gucci family hit the press.
In 1994, Tom Ford was appointed Creative Director at Gucci in an attempt to bring about positive change.
Within five years, an increase of 90% in sales was reported, and the House of Gucci was worth about $4 billion. Ford was the largest shareholder at one point during his time at the company.
The Gucci “Genius Jeans” entered the Guinness World Records as the most expensive pair of jeans in the world. In 1998, they were valued at a whopping $3,134.
Many high-profile designers work alongside Gucci, including Alexander McQueen and Stella McCartney.
In 2005, Gucci decided to partner with UNICEF. This means that a percentage of all profits is donated to the organization, which helps children get better education and clean water in third-world countries.
The Bamboo Shopper is one of the most iconic Gucci items, but many people are surprised to hear of its creation. When leather was sparse, designers had to experiment with other materials, including bamboo.
Sixty years after Gucci founded the business, the company had its first runway show, held in Florence, where it all began.
Many items have been around for years, but they are regularly redesigned and improved. The Flora scarf, for example, was reinvented in 2015 for the Cruise Collection.
Frida Giannini became the Creative Director in 2006 after Tom Ford left to start his own brand.
In 2015, fashion designer Alessandro Michele took over as the Creative Direction. Since then, sales have grown by 12% and Gucci is even more prominent at world-class events such as Milan Fashion Week.
It was the first brand to host a fashion show at Westminster Abbey, London, in 2017.
Gucci’s Chime for Change project aims to help empower young girls and women and has successfully funded over 200 different projects so far.
