Fashion fanatics of the capital city; this one’s for you. Having successfully premiered in Shanghai back in April, Gucci Cosmos has arrived in London to celebrate the deep ties Gucci has with the UK’s capital.
Gucci Cosmos takes visitors on a journey through time, exploring the 102-year history of the fashion house and its ongoing cutting-edge creativity. Designed by renowned British contemporary artist, Es Devlin, and curated by distinguished Italian fashion theorist, Maria Luisa Frisa; Gucci Cosmos is a deep-dive into the heart and soul of the fashion house, that is not to be missed.
The history of Gucci
The story of Gucci began in London back in 1987. A young Guccio Gucci was working as a luggage porter at the exclusive Savoy Hotel. He got a taste of the lifestyle (and the luggage) of the international elite, which inspired him to he create his own luggage-making brand. In 1921, he did exactly that. Back in Florence he founded his leather-goods house and shortly after that, the very first Gucci store was born.
London is intrinsically linked to the heritage of Gucci. The London adaptation of the exhibition has been adapted to include site-specific experiences. Using a careful balance of audio, visual and kinetic components, Guccio Gucci’s experiences at The Savoy (which sits just 500 metres from 180 The Strand) have been included to further explore this key period in the House’s origins.
The exhibition
Gucci Cosmos will explore how Guccio Gucci’s spirit has been brought to life through some of the House’s most iconic designs, and how these era-defining classics continue to inspire to this day. It will showcase how the progressive belief in the power of creativity (mixed with the finest Italian craftmanship and tradition) has seen Gucci not only mirror the times, but define them.
Split into different sections or ‘worlds’ that will draw together treasures (many of which have never been seen before) to trace different aspects of the Gucci brand. The exhibition as a whole, is a tribute to the House’s most esteemed designs, symbols and products, and the exceptional talents of its designers and artisans. From Guccio Gucci in 1921 to today, all have ensured the timelessness of Gucci’s ethos and the house’s commitment to shaping the future.
Es Devlin said: “For the exhibition’s iteration in London, I wanted draw on the city’s pivotal role in the House’s origin myth in which a young Guccio Gucci rode up and down the red lacquered ‘Ascending Room’ at The Savoy where his interactions with guests and their exquisite luggage would go on to forge his future.”
Maria Luisa Frisa said: “Gucci Cosmos, a project in the form of an exhibition inaugurated in Shanghai and now located in London, was an extraordinary opportunity for me to traverse the universe of Gucci through an ever-different lens. And I was able to tell its story through the clothes, objects, elements, people, and contexts that made this brand iconic and a trailblazer within fashion and collective visual culture for over a century.”
Gucci Cosmos will run at the 180 Studios until December 31, 2023. Plan your visit here.
180 The Strand, WC2R 1EA.