Ask any fashion girl what bag she's coveting this season, and we bet a Gucci design is on the list of contenders. With the help of Creative Director Alessandro Michele, the iconic label's sort of gone viral, modeled on the cover of magazines and toted on the arms of celebrities. I even pulled out my grandmother's vintage shopper that's big enough to carry my laptop. (Full disclosure: I've been wearing it almost every day.)
But with an iconic brand like Gucci in the spotlight, it's not just about the new and now. The fashion house's history begins in the early 1920s, and you've got quite the timeline to study. Read on for 19 little-known Gucci facts you've never heard, then study up on Chanel and everyone's go-to retailer, Zara, too.
1. Those double Gs? They stand for Guccio Gucci
Guccio founded the empire in Florence, Italy, in 1921. His specialty was luggage, since one of his first jobs was working in The Savoy Hotel in London as an elevator operator. There he welcomed the likes of Marilyn Monroe, who later carried his accessories.
2. Gucci Was Inspired by Horse Racing
That's where his signature hardware design comes from — it's crafted to look like horse bits and stirrups.
3. Gucci's First New York Store Was Opened in 1953
It was the first-ever Italian luxury goods brick-and-mortar store opened stateside. This was also the same year Guccio Gucci died, and his four sons took over managing the fashion house. Today, the brand has over 550 stores. Here, Grace Kelly leaves a boutique in Rome in 1959.
4. The Iconic Gucci Loafer Was Created in 1932
While original models of the footwear are displayed in New York’s Museum of Modern Art, street style stars these days are all about the fur-lined looks.
5. Canvas Was Introduced During World War II
Due to a material shortage, the Gucci team resorted to cotton canvas instead of leather during World War II. This is when the signature red and green bands were developed.
6. The Bamboo Handle Dates Back to 1947
It’s still around today and was originally made by a process of heating and molding.
7. Gucci's Had Plenty of Automobile Collaborations
In the early 1970s, Gucci made over the AMC Hornet car, luxuriating the sportabout station wagon with Gucci stripes and the Gucci crest.
8. Tom Ford Was Artistic Director From 1994 to 2005
Ford modernized the brand through an American lens and brought major success.
9. Frida Giannini Was Appointed Creative Director in 2005
At first, women’s ready-to-wear and accessories were under her watch, but she took control of the entire brand the following year. Giannini started working for Gucci in 2002.
10. The Genius Jeans Made the Guinness World Records Book in 1998
The style was the most expensive ever sold — for a whopping $3,134 in Milan. The record has since been surpassed by Levi’s in 2005, which sold a pair to an anonymous Japanese collector for $60,000. Styles since have been embellished and embroidered (this look is from the pre-Fall '16 collection) — denim is an ample part of the Gucci woman’s wardrobe.
11. Gucci Was Ranked the 38th Most Valuable Brand
The Forbes World’s Most Valuable Brands list ranks Gucci at 38. The label is valued at $12.4 billion.
12. The "Gucci Group," Now Called Kering, Doesn't Only Include Gucci
Kering encompasses labels like Bottega Veneta, Saint Laurent, Stella McCartney, and Alexander McQueen too.
13. Alessandro Michele Became Creative Director in January 2015
Born in Rome, Alessandro was senior accessories designer at Fendi, then spent time at Tom Ford in 2002.
14. The Fall '16 Show Represents Alessandro's Full Vision For the Brand
It took a few collections, but Michele finally established his aesthetic with the latest collection.
15. Gucci Had No Problem Collaborating With a Spinoff Graffiti Artist
For Fall ’16, Michele collaborated with GucciGhost, aka Trouble Andrew, a graffiti artist who splashed his signature playful prints onto shoppers, crossbody bags, and even a midi skirt.
16. The Dionysus Is the Bag All the Fashion Girls Want
Many versions are covered with plants, birds, and insects and can be seen on the arms of celebs and street style stars alike.
17. This Is the Gucci Dress That Went Viral
This Spring '16 Gucci dress has already appeared on three magazine covers, and Jimmy Fallontook a liking to it when Dakota Johnson matched his yellow telephone on The Tonight Show.
18. Gucci Has Partnered With UNICEF Since 2005
Gucci donates a percentage of sales to the fund, which promotes education, healthcare protection, and clean water for children affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa. This particular adfeaturing Rihanna spotlighted a new collection for the cause.
19. Gucci Opened a Museum in Italy
It spans 1,715 square meters and charts the brand's 90-year history. Gucci Museo is located within the Palazzo della Mercanzia in Italy.
