Brand Story
Gucci officially Guccio Gucci S.p.A. is an Italian luxury fashion house based in Florence, Tuscany. Its product lines include ready-to-wear, footwear, accessories, handbags, and home decoration; and it licenses its name and branding to Coty for fragrance and cosmetics under the name Gucci Beauty. Gucci was founded in 1921 by Guccio Gucci (1881–1953) in Florence. Under the direction of Aldo Gucci (son of Guccio), Gucci became a global brand, and was considered emblematic of the Italian economic miracle. Following family feuds during the 1980s, the Gucci family was entirely ousted from the capital of the company by 1993. After this crisis, the brand was revived and in 1999 Gucci became a subsidiary of Kering. In 2024, Gucci operated 529 stores with 20,032 employees, and generated €7.65 billion in sales.
Timeline
- 1921
Founded in Florence
Guccio Gucci opens a leather goods shop, inspired by his time at London's Savoy Hotel.
- 1953
Horsebit loafer debuts
Iconic horsebit loafer launches; later acquired by MoMA's permanent collection.
- 1994
Tom Ford becomes Creative Director
Ford's provocative campaigns and runway looks pull Gucci out of near-bankruptcy.
- 2015
Alessandro Michele era begins
Michele's eccentric maximalism transforms Gucci into the millennial luxury brand of the decade.
- 2017
Dapper Dan partnership
After being accused of copying Harlem's Dapper Dan, Gucci partners with him on collections — heritage rights reclamation.