The History of Gucci Design and Perfume

Guiccio Gucci opened a saddlers shop in Florence in 1906 and it is no surprise that equestrian themes are still prominent in the company today. The famous horse-bit buckle and iconic striped webbing that has its origins in horse tack have contributed to Gucci being one of the top brands in the world.

The House of Gucci was founded in 1921. Gucci sold leather bags to horse people but quickly extended the range to luxury luggage that suited the new type of traveller that grew out of the development of the motor car. Gucci was first and foremost a craftsman, his products were of highest quality, manufactured with care and skill using only the finest materials available. But Gucci was no mere master saddle he had an eye for design as well as functionality and he was himself responsible for many of the company's iconic designs including the bamboo handle handbag which is still such a stable part of the Gucci brand. Guccio Gucci also designed the classic suede shoe with the snaffle bit buckle and the striped webbing that was inspired by a horse's saddle girth. Guccio Gucci died in 1953 and his son Aldo Gucci lead the company to International prominence. 

Blows in the Gucci boardroom

The Gucci family was notorious for its board room rows often coming to blows involving stock ownership, inheritance, and company strategy. Despite the family fights Gucci continued to grow and today it is one of the top fifty leading brands in the world. Gucci products particularly the Gucci floral silk scarf and the Jackie O handbag were worn by world’s most glamorous women in the 1960's.  The family rows became so intense that
Aldo Gucci's son Paolo reported his father to the US Government for tax evasion and Aldo was sent to prison on his son's testimony.

Maurizio Gucci, The Founders Grandson

Maurizio Gucci, the founders grandson took over the firm in 1983 and realizing that if allowed to continue the family disputes would sink the company so he looked for outside talent to guide the company.  Maurizio was a very affable man who believed passionately in the Gucci business but despite his charm and enthusiasm, he was a poor manger and quickly lost the confidence of the company's management.  Maurizio was pressurised into selling his shares in Gucci to Investcorp in 1993.  
                                    
Domenico De Sole took over as president and CEO of Gucci from the feud pressed  Maurizio in 1994. 'Cometh the hour cometh the man' De Sole a lawyer by profession, with no previous experience of the fashion industry, took Gucci by the scruff of the neck and turned it from a tired slumbering product into a eight billion dollar giant. De Sole clearly understood the Gucci brand and more importantly, he had the vision and courage to devise a strategy that would relaunch the brand and drive Gucci to the top. De Sole understood the fashion strength of the brand supported by a tradition of quality that went right back to Guccio Gucci in the 1920's. De Dole aggressively strengthened the quality aspect of the Gucci brand and took a hard look at the company's pricing strategy: he set out to offer good value to the consumer. De Sole famously said 'there are three things that really makes a business sucessful: execution, execution, execution and at Gucci
we executed very well.' 

 
Tom Ford joined Gucci in 1990 and De Sole saw his potential and in one of the most inspired decisions in the history of fashion made him head of design.  Ford's collections were a sensation and virtually overnight transformed the fortunes of Gucci.

Ford was a gifted designer and an even more skilful marketer who understood that old adage that 'sex sells' and there was nothing coy about the sexy strut of Gucci brand during Fords tenure. The older generation may have tut- tuted but the young ones reached deep into their pockets to buy into the Gucci image with its
clear image that something sexy was about to happen. Ford did not believe in the subtle, suggestive approach to sex and he famously shaved a G into the pubic hair of model in an advertising campaign. The older generation may have disapproved and turned up their eyes but the young ones reached deep into their pockets to buy into the Gucci image with its clear message that something sexy was about to happen. Ford's personal image lived up to the hype, with his Hollywood good looks and stylish suits and elegant, athletic build he was darling of the media but Ford was no idle glamour boy, he knew what the customer wanted and he worked hard to give it to them 

Ford's contract ended in 2004 and De Sole who continued to battle with PPR's executives about where the company was headed and things eventually came to a head and both men left Gucci in that year. The leading New York vintage clothing guru Keni Valenti when he heard that Tom Ford was leaving Gucci famously commented "This is the end of glamour."  It was always going to be difficult to replace Ford and Allesandra Fachinetti who took on the job, quit after only two seasons. The former Creative Director of accessories Frida Gianni was made chief Creative Director in 2006. In a recent interview with Tim Banks of Interview Magazine, Giannini commented "You need to reinvent yourself every day when you are doing creative work."  Whatever inspires her, it certainly seems to be working for Gucci as they are more than holding their own despite the current recession.  

The History of Gucci Perfume

Introduced in 2007, Gucci by Gucci Perfume is a very distintive fragrance: a floral chypre with a juicy hint of guava pear and the polynasian beauty of Haitian Tiara flower at its heart and with an alluringly seductive blend of musk, camomille, honey, spider lillies and patchouli in its amourous base. Read more about the Gucci by Gucci Perfume range