FASHION FEATURE
Step into the enchanting world of Gucci Garden in Florence Italy
Get yourself all pumped up for Bally’s new Janelle collection
In the world of fashion, Italy is home to some of the most iconic labels that helped pave and shape the fashion industry it is known today. While most continue to thrive and remain relevant because of their ability to evolve into much more than a storied heritage brand, very few manage to take the label into new heights, turning it into so much more and creating other avenues. Case in point is beloved Italian house Gucci. Founded in Florence, Tuscany by Guccio Gucci in 1921, its beginnings were rooted in the art of travel via lugguages and the equestrian lifestyle. Fast forward 98 years later, Gucci has become one of the most recognizable and global brands that continue to dominate the market because of its unique designs and campaigns. It is undeniable that this house has a rich history that spans decades and it is essential to tell its tale, not only to Gucci fans but to the world as well. It makes sense then to house its archives, milestone mementos and collections in one place and situate it in picturesque Florence where it all started.
Located in the historic Palazzo della Mercanzia in Florence’s Piazza della Signoria, Gucci Garden was conceived by Gucci Creative Director Alessandro Michele and highlights exhibition spaces curated by critic and curator Maria Luisa Frisa. Culling inspiration from the House’s archive, Maria Luisa Frisa experimented with a new take on displaying artifacts and documents in the Gucci Garden Galleria, by presenting a series of new exhibits. Keeping in mind Gucci’s complex, multi-dimensional history and behavior, the new exhibits feature the ever-evolving imagination of Alessandro Michele, who spins narratives and mythologies and marries his personal memories and experiences and those of the House.
Upon entering the first level of the Gucci Garden Galleria, visitors will be welcomed by the room Détournement, where decontextualised elements from the house are placed in a circle, and objects are torn from their own history. The Gucci alphabet is disassembled and reassembled, while the logo is iridescent and displayed in its multiple formats. Japanese artist Yuko Higuchi also designed an image of a large, mythical creature and incorporated many of Gucci’s signature details such as the green-red-green web stripe ribbon, Kingsnake, Tiger and interlocking Gs, along with the flowers and insects that make up a garden scene within the Gucci Garden. Yuko Higuchi says, “I drew the beast as if it is offering a flower, in a setting evoking the wonderful flowers and plants of a Gucci Garden. The creature comes
from my imagination and I see it as a type of dragon. The image was also inspired by the idea of the Shiranui, the optical phenomenon of supernatural-looking fire that you sometimes get over water, and which I feel brings great joy.” Next, visitors will discover Bagology, an exhibit that celebrates the ultimate accessory: the bag. Starting from the 1950s up to the present, the curated bags from the archives and contemporary collections show that while Gucci has constantly been re-imagined through the eyes of its creative directors, the brand’s DNA has remained intact. Popular styles like the journey of design of the Sylvie and Jackie are seen here. The level ends with Cosmorama, which is an homage to the art of travel. Gucci after all, started out as luggage company, and this is seen through an eclectic array of bags, luggage, hat boxes, beauty cases and trunks that celebrate “jet set,” which is at the heart of the loyal Gucci clientele.
On the second floor, the first two rooms feature distinct motifs. The first, Ouroboros is all about the ancient symbol of snake biting and is told in recent Gucci narratives. Starting off with plants and animal details that snake their way through Gucci’s heritage, the exhibit plays on the idea of the mysterious side of nature and into the symbols of ancient civilizations. The space has pieces such as a golden, armor-like gown, feathered jeans, a long black dress with a serpent slithering down the body and pieces where the vegetation rooted in the heritage of Gucci is displayed, which is the modern interpretation of the iconic Flora motif. The second room on the other hand, puts the spotlight on Cosmic Colors, which explores a color palette theme (Neptune Green, Sun Glow, Space Blue, Cosmic Red) a concept that is consistently prevalent in the Gucci collections. Lastly, the final room, Jardin d’Hiver, showcases more of Gucci’s archive, with the introduction of objects and documents surrounded by the white version of the Gucci Tian wallpaper. Display cases, mirroring a collection of birdcages, create the effect of an eccentric winter garden—a final and total immersion of the house.
Perhaps one of the most visited offerings of the Gucci Garden is the Gucci Garden Store. Exclusive and special pieces made solely for this boutique makes it an ultimate destination for shoppers in Florence. New to Gucci Garden is a selection of clothing and other items bearing images by artist Livia Carpenzano, who is popularly known for her graphic work. Gucci’s best selling bags such as the Bamboo, Sylvie and Dionysus take the spotlight with exclusive prints and silhouettes. Gucci Ready to Wear pieces in both mens and womens are also available here, along with footwear and jewelry. Gucci Décor pieces such as upholstered dining chairs, porcelain crockery, candle holders mugs, decorative shopper bags, pouches, notebooks, postcards, music boxes, matchboxes and storage boxes— and all trinkets one might think of—are all decorated in Gucci House style.
To cap off the whole Gucci Garden multi-experience, visit the restaurant, the Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura. Headed by none other than globally renowned chef Massimo Bottura, whose dishes are influenced by the deep roots of the Italian cuisine, he is also recognized for his three-Michelin star restaurant, Osteria Francescana which was heralded as No. 1 on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants List in 2016 and 2018. Together with Karime López, chef de cuisine of the Gucci Osteria, Massimo Bottura, has created a menu that is reinvented each season and is heavily inspired by the people, experiences, and places they visited on many of their travels. “This restaurant is a reminder that Florence has always been a center of cultural exchange, particularly during the Renaissance,” says Massimo Bottura. So the next time you visit Florence, dare to get lost in a dream and step into the world of Gucci Garden.
“CULLING INSPIRATION FROM THE HOUSE’S ARCHIVE, MARIA LUISA FRISA EXPERIMENTED WITH A NEW TAKE ON DISPLAYING ARTIFACTS AND DOCUMENTS IN THE GUCCI GARDEN GALLERIA, BY PRESENTING A SERIES OF NEW EXHIBITS”