Gucci unveils centenary collection in Milan

By

Dominique Muret

Published
Jun 21, 2021

Gucci is not hosting a runway show in Milan this year. It's latest collection, Aria, was shown online in April, while its next offering will hit the catwalk in Los Angeles on 3 November. Nonetheless, the Italian house wanted to be present in some way at Milan Fashion Week Men's, if nothing else as a show of solidarity with the national fashion sector. The brand therefore organised an event during the fashion week's opening, on Friday and Saturday. 

It was in the VIP lounge, on the first floor of the brand's flagship store on the prestigious Via Montenapoleone, that Gucci lifted the veil on a special centenary collection for a chosen few, including FashionNetwork.com. This is just one of the many projects that the brand has presented since the beginning of the year and which it will continue to launch throughout 2021 in order to celebrate its anniversary, including collections, the release of the Gucci 1921 fragrance, a high jewellery presentation and the reorganisation of the house's archives in Florence, with an event scheduled at Pitti Uomo at the beginning of July. 

The Gucci 100 anniversary collection, which will go on sale at the end of September, is aimed at both men and women. The offering boasts some 50 pieces, ranging from sportswear to more formal garments, as well as a wide variety of accessories, including shoes – mocassins, mules and sneakers – bags and retro suitcases. 

The collection makes repeated references to music, which has long served as a source of inspiration for the house's creative director. But, as usual, Alessandro Michele opted for a humorous approach to the theme. The designer therefore played with Gucci's reputation in the world of music, printing t-shirts, accessories and other pieces with lines from different songs that cite the Italian brand in their lyrics, as well as with "22705," which represents the total number of songs from around the world in which Gucci is referenced. 

The house's emblematic prints and motifs, such as the double G and the horse bit, also made an appearance, popping up on coats, tops, mini-shorts and accessories, all channelling the vintage vibe so dear to the designer. The brand's historic floral prints were also featured, appearing in pretty little dresses and scarf dresses.