The Story of… Gucci
Reported by ReadysetDCIn this feature, Katerina Herodotou of Treasury examines the stories behind items available at her store to bring you a deeper knowledge and understanding of the cultural currency of style, the mechanisms of manufacture and the hard work of designers and artisans.
Gucci bag available at Treasury for $125.
The iconic House of Gucci has its roots in the 1920s. Since its beginnings, Gucci has introduced several iconic symbols that it continues to pepper goods with: bamboo handles, horsebit links, striped webbing. But nothing is more iconic than its double “G” logo. While the brand grew in standing thanks to celebrity fans such as Grace Kelly, the luxury company was plagued with infighting, as it was still family owned well into the 70s and 80s. This led to Aldo Gucci’s imprisonment on tax evasion charges, brought on by his own son! Italian drama at its best. In the 90s, the last remaining Gucci family member still involved in the mess reigned in the company and initiated the changes that made the powerhouse the machine it is today. Tom Ford was brought on in 1990 and the rest is sexy, sexy history. Gucci is now part of the PPR conglomerate. The earlier pieces, before the 90s that is, were all made in Italy but nowadays its hard to trace the manufacture of luxury goods. Laws in Italy have changed so that companies may use the “Made in Italy” designation even if only one piece of the handbag was actually sewn in Italy. Many luxury companies manufacture in Chinese factories, using the same staff and machinery that brands like H&M and TopShop employ and then stitch on their label in Europe. Lame.
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