Stepping into the future while holding firmly to its past, GUCCI unveiled its Spring/Summer 2024 Collection at a splendid party during Milan’s Men’s Fashion Week. This year, GUCCI celebrates the 70th anniversary of a legendary creation that embodies its enduring flair – the iconic GUCCI Horsebit Loafer.
For this special occasion, GUCCI transformed Spazio Maiocchi, a prominent art venue, into The GUCCI Horsebeat Society – a countercultural club that blended history and innovation. Alessio Ascari, the creative director of Spazio Maiocchi, ensured that the venue played host to an immersive, multi-disciplinary experience, highlighting the rich heritage of the Horsebit Loafer through a blend of installations, live performances, exhibitions and videos.
Adding a touch of innovation, ten avant-garde artists contributed to the show, creating artwork inspired by GUCCI’s famed Horsebit symbol. The Horsebit, originally a functional element on a horse’s bridle, was whimsically reinvented across various forms, from AI-generated patterns on the venue’s carpeting to a subtle, yet impactful graphic element on a classic Prince of Wales wool suit.
Part of the celebration involved a unique display of the GUCCI Spring/Summer 2024 Collection. Each piece was thoughtfully presented in an area adorned by the collage works of Australian artist Ed Davis. The collection itself manifested a harmonious fusion between the bygone and the futuristic.
The collection boasted reinterpretations of classic pieces with audaciously enhanced proportions. From the elongated silhouettes of blazers to the revival of ‘70s bootcut trousers, the collection signified an evolution of GUCCI’s traditional sartorial elegance. Meanwhile, an undercurrent of techno-quirk ran through the collection, as seen in the ingenious workwear/sporty hybrids, where GUCCI’s GG logo was rendered with a unique digital distortion.
One particularly standout piece was an oversized hoodie and shorts ensemble, shimmering in silver metallic threads, that appeared to fluidly change shape. Another notable look, a washed denim jacket paired with wide-leg pants, was adorned with micro mirror tiles, providing a radiant spectacle reminiscent of a wearable disco ball.
Adding further spectacle to the event was an installation by Swiss artist Sylvie Fleury, featuring a furry bedroom overshadowed by a hanging square-heeled Horsebit loafer from Tom Ford’s 1995 Gucci show. Also of note was an art piece by American sculptor Pitter Patter, a surreal bean-shaped desk supported by replicas of legs clad in GUCCI’s iconic Horsebit loafers.
The event was both a celebration of GUCCI’s past and a hint towards the future, especially with the upcoming arrival of new creative director Sabato De Sarno in September.
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