Since the 1950s, Gucci’s journey into silk craftsmanship has laid the foundation for a legacy of artistry and luxury that endures to this day, with some of its earliest designs inspired by the House’s signature leather goods; reflecting its artisanal roots.
Gucci’s first collaborative scarf with a distinguished silk producer from Como, Italy in 1958 — the Tolda di Nave — was the nautical-themed masterpiece that marked the beginning of decades of silk innovation.
The house subsequently elevated its scarf designs, throughout the 1960s, in a collaboration with renowned illustrator Vittorio Accornero de Testa, whose imaginative creations are characterised by intricate details and vibrant themes that turn silk into wearable art.
By 1969, silk extended beyond Gucci’s accessories to clothing, with scarf prints on shirts and dresses — a trend that still thrives today with silk patterns frequently mirrored in its ready-to-wear collections.
Keep It Gucci: the Art of Silk is the fashion house’s new campaign that pays homage to Gucci’s storied legacy in silk craftsmanship while celebrating its timeless allure.
Photographed by Steven Meisel, the campaign stars actress Julia Garner and is set against the city’s nocturnal glow where the imagery unfolds like a cinematic sequence with an ever-shifting interplay that makes the silk look more than a fabric.
The campaign photos feature Gucci’s celebrated Flora motif too, that was first introduced in 1966 by Italian illustrator Vittorio Accornero de Testa.
Gucci GG Monogram created in collaboration with Inji Seo for the 90 x 90 project. Image courtesy of Gucci. Gucci Flora created in collaboration with Jonny Niesche for the 90 x 90 project. Image courtesy of Gucci. Gucci Flora created in collaboration with Robert Barry for the 90 x 90 project. Image courtesy of Gucci/The Gallery Francesca Minini, Milan Gucci Flora created in collaboration with Sara Leghissa for the 90 x 90 project. Image courtesy of Gucci. Gucci Fauna created in collaboration with Wallie (Walter Petrone) for the 90 x 90 project. Image courtesy of Gucci. Gucci Fauna created in collaboration with Yu Cai for the 90 x 90 project. Image courtesy of Gucci.
This campaign also includes the 90 x 90 project where nine international artists are tasked to reinterpret five archival themes rooted in Gucci’s storied archive, namely the Flora, Fauna, Nautical, Equestrian, and the GG Monogram.
