If Fashion is a cousin to Art and the daughter of History then Italy’s premier fashion house, Gucci, is a forbidden lover. Gucci is more than a name. Gucci brings the esthetic appeal of what it is to be Italian into focus. Italians are bold, chic and daring. So is Gucci.
Gucci was established in Florence when Guccio Gucci opened his first stores on Via Vigna Nuova and then Via del Parione in 1921. You can visit the streets where the stores were Florence, but the Gucci Flagship Store is around the corner on Via Tornabuoni. In its early years, Gucci dealt only in a variety of leather goods such as saddlebags and suitcases before slowly developing into the Icon it is today. Gucci is still present in Florence today, There a smaller store near the Duomo. Gucci has frequently used and maintained Palazzo della Mercanzia located in Piazza della Signora. The building its self is of much importance in Florence and was where many business deals were made and where the Florentine Guilds met regularly. Leatherworking is one of the original guilds of Florence which makes a unique connection between this Italian fashion staple and its beginnings in Florentine leather. Gucci Headquarters office were also in the Palazzo, and then the original Gucci Museo was located inside also which was dedicated to the brand as a whole. Now, the building houses a revamped Gucci Museum with a garden theme called the Gucci Garden Museum.
The Garden Museum is the brainchild of current Creative Director, Alessandro Michele, who has brought Gucci to the forefront of popular culture. Gucci can be seen on artist and actors alike such as Jared Leto and Lana Del Rey. Much of the museum showcases, modern designs by Michele and recycled pieces from the previous museum. The gallery unfold like a flower passing through icon pieces and designs of the brand.
Depicting the layers of Gucci’s mythology as it has developed over time through glass cases. The goal of the gallery is not only immerse people in Gucci but to disorient them like in a garden maze. There is liberal use of projectors showing not only old fashion shows and logos but also animating floral wallpaper. The birds on the wall start to move and chirp.
Everything has undergone Guccification. Gucci: dyed python dress & patterned purse
The walls are painted or wallpapered while the staircase feature graffiti like writing.
Each room is dedicated to the culture, style and history that encompasses Gucci. Among the Elephant skin bags, bejeweled dresses and fur coats, it is easy to fall in love with Gucci. The Museum is painstaking decorated and styled. Every shelf is a curated work of art filled with books and merchandise.
Gucci Garden Boutique and Merchandise
The floorboards of the boutique downstairs have been painted with beautiful florals, and so has the display furniture, some which feature animals such as monkeys. The floral patterns and color swirl around the rooms of the boutique making the statement that even the store is a part of the art. Much of the merchandise found in the Boutique can only be found at the Museum and even has special branding, butterflies and bats, florals, bright garden colors.
Downstairs, is also a equally designed restaurant, Osteria da Massimo Bottura by three-Michelin-star chef of the same name. Michelin stars are elite awards given to chefs and are the most sought after. The more stars a chef has the more brilliant and famous they are. Bottura is a mastermind three times over and his innovations with food are well known.
Gucci Garden Museum can be said to be the playground of two Genius, Bottura and Michele who are simply allowing us to play in their garden. The Restaurant itself serves on Gucci china and its common to receive drink service when purchasing from the Boutique. Purchasing your first Gucci item is an experience in its self. Buying a Gucci Purse at the Garden Museum in its hometown is the ultimate. Olga Rundnychenko is an employee at Gucci Garden who has been working at the store for a short time and was extremely personable. Olga provided me with amazing details about the Museum such as the prices of the Furniture and the one of a kind clothing items that are for sale. Olga was transferred to the Gucci Garden Museum from the Flagship Store in Munich. Olga did not really have a selling ploy and allowed the quality and luxury of Gucci to sell the product for her. The boutiques sells beautiful purses that are unique and only available at the Garden Boutique among other pieces like candles and journals. There are also postcards and crank music boxes with chime classic romantic songs.
Overall, it was a once in a lifetime experience which ended up making a large dent in the bank account.
Olga said that "A girl never forgets her first Gucci."
Well, Olga was right.
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