Gimme the facts...
Gucci,designer,fashion designer,designer profile,fashion label,challenge designer
Guccio Gucci
The House Of Gucci was founded by Guccio Gucci in Florence in 1921. Considered today to be one of the most prestigious, and iconic fashion brands in the world, the label has had a rocky history full of family in-fighting. When Guccio passed away in 1953, four of his sons Vasco, Aldo, Ugo and Rodolfo took over the company but every step of the way the company\'s progress was marred by the brother\'s inability to agree on anything. The label remained one of the premier luxury goods establishments in the world until the late 1970s, when a series of disastrous business decisions and family quarrels brought the company to the verge of bankruptcy, compounded by the fact that cheap knockoffs of Gucci wares were flooding the market and tarnishing the company name. When Rodolfo died in 1983 the company underwent a huge shake-up spearheaded by his son Maurizio who became the sole family member at the helm of the label. He hired Dawn Mello who had revived Bergdorf Goodman in the \'70s as Executive Vice President and Creative Director Worldwide, who in turn attracted the talent of Geoffrey Beene, Calvin Klein and a young college dropout by the name of Tom Ford. It wasn\'t until Tom Ford took over as Creative Director in 1994 though that the company\'s fortunes dramatically improved. In his first year at the helm, he was credited with putting the glamour back into fashion introducing Halston-style velvet hipsters, skinny satin shirts and car-finish metallic patent boots. In 1995, he brought in French stylist Carine Roitfeld and photographer Mario Testino to create a series of new, modern ad campaigns for the company. Between 1995 and 1996, sales at Gucci increased by 90%. By 1999, the house, which had been almost bankrupt when Ford joined, was valued at about $4.3bn. Today Gucci is still flourishing under the creative direction of Ford protégé Frida Giannini.
What\'s all the fuss about?
Gucci,fashion designer,Spring Summer 2009,designer profile,fashion label,challenge designer
Gucci s/s 2009
Since Tom Ford revamped Gucci in the \'90s, it has become an über desirable must have label for modern glamazons. True to their heritage, accessories continue to be one of the company\'s main strengths but the fashion line has more than caught up carving out a sexy luxe niche in the market. But above all else the \'60s provided Gucci with some of their most iconic designs - the famous GG logo (Guccio Gucci\'s initials), the Flora silk headscarf (worn prominently by Grace Kelly) and the Jackie O shoulder bag made famous by Jackie Kennedy Onassis - which are still best sellers today.
Who wears it?
Madonna,Gucci,celebrity fashion,fashion designer,designer profile,fashion label,challenge designer
Madonna
All the celebrities who trade off a sexy image love a bit of Gucci, including Rihanna, Madonna, Naomi Campbell, Eva Longoria Parker and Jennifer Lopez. That said, their luxury classic status also attracts the more low-key and feminine girls such as Cameron Diaz and Drew Barrymore.
