The Gucci Museo, a museum celebrating the brand’s 90-year history, opens in Florence on Tuesday. From the birth of Jackie O’s namesake bag to Tom Ford’s first collection to Madonna’s famous red-carpet moment, see a timeline of the brand.
Guccio Gucci is born in Florence in 1881. By 1912, he and his wife, Aida, had three sons: Aldo, Vasco, and Rodolfo, all pictured later together here. They inherited the brand.
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Guccio opens his first stores in Florence, on Via Vigna Nuova and then Via del Parione. At right, a Gucci ad from April 8, 1922.
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As a result of a League of Nations embargo against Italy in the 1930s, Gucci finds alternatives to imported leather and other materials. It develops a specially woven canapa—or hemp—from Naples, marked with its first signature print, a series of small, interconnecting diamonds in dark brown on a tan background. The company’s first suitcases are made from it.
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The Rome store opens on Via Condotti. At left, Aldo Gucci shows in the new storefront.
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Production of leather goods resumes after World War II. Aldo Gucci introduces the pigskin, which becomes a signature house material following the war. The first bamboo-handled bag, inspired by the shape of a saddle, is thought to have been produced in this period.
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Rodolfo Gucci opens the first Milan store on Via Montenapoleone. Around this time, the green-red-green web becomes a hallmark of the company. (Rodolfo is pictured at left in the store in the 1970s.)
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Ingrid Bergman is seen carrying a Gucci bag around Naples.
Bert Hardy, Picture Post / Getty Images; Courtesy of Gucci
Elizabeth Taylor carries a Gucci bamboo handle handbag on the set of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof with Paul Newman in 1958.
Rue des Archives; Courtesy of Gucci
The bag Jacqueline Kennedy is seen with is renamed “The Jackie” in 1961. (Here she is photographed with the bag in the 1970s.)
Ron Galella; Courtesy of Gucci
Around this time, the GG logo is applied to canvas and used for bags, small leather goods, luggage, and the first pieces of clothing, including the Jackie bag (at right).
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The Flora scarf print is designed for Princess Grace of Monaco.
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Audrey Hepburn shops in Gucci’s Rome store.
Agomeri; Courtesy of Gucci
Sammy Davis Jr. and his wife carry Gucci suitcases through a London airport.
Farabolafoto; Courtesy of Gucci
Liza Minnelli takes a spin on a shopping cart pushed by Joel Grey.
Publifoto / Olycom; Courtesy of Gucci
Rod Stewart strides through a London airport carrying a Gucci bag.
Farabolafoto; Courtesy of Gucci
Jodie Foster wears the iconic Gucci horse-bit loafers while skateboarding.
Archivio Publifoto / Olycom; Courtesy of Gucci
The iconic loafer is displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and becomes part of the permanent collection.
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Princess Diana carries the Gucci bamboo-handle bag in Rome.
Exclusive Pix; Courtesy of Gucci
Tom Ford, who began overseeing women’s ready-to-wear in 1990, is appointed creative director in 1994. His first collection, for fall 1995, focuses on jet-set glamour and is a critical and commercial success.
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Madonna makes a splash in Tom Ford’s first collection for the house when she accepts an award at the MTV Video Music Awards and says onstage: “Gucci, Gucci, Gucci!”
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Ford’s collection of white cutout jersey dresses fastened with abstract horse-bit belts sets the sleek, sexy, modern style of the house’s look in the 1990s, establishing it as a brand dedicated to evening glamour—and consequently attracting hordes of Hollywood actors and actress.
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Ford leaves the company in 2004. John Ray takes over men’s design, Alessandra Facchinetti takes women’s, and Frida Giannini, previously a handbag designer for Fendi, becomes creative director of accessories. By 2005, Giannini is appointed creative director of women’s ready-to-wear following her successful relaunch of the Flora print as a bag collection. A year later, she adds the role of creative director for men’s wear. By 2009, the company launches a signature scent, Flora by Gucci, and the iconic Jackie bag is relaunched and dubbed the New Jackie Bag.
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Gucci opens its first pop-up shop in New York, selling an exclusive footwear line designed by DJ Mark Ronson. Similar temporary stores will later open in Miami, London, and Tokyo.
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Salma Hayek wears the very first couture gown from Gucci Première collection designed by creative director Frida Giannini at the Cannes Film Festival in 2010.
Tony Barson, WireImage / Getty Images; Courtesy of Gucci
The company unveils its renovated digital flagship and launches Gucci Playground, the first iPad app dedicated to children’s wear, and the Aquariva by Gucci, a luxury yacht designed by Giannini and available made to order.
Hilary Swank wears a Gucci Première couture strapless floor length evening gown with silver sequins and crystal encrusted metallic bustier to the Academy Awards in 2011. The gown features a full ostrich feather skirt. This is Gucci Première’s American red-carpet debut.
Steve Granitz, WireImage / Getty Images; Courtesy of Gucci
Gucci unveils the Fiat 500 by Gucci, a customized model of the Fiat 500 (Cinquecento) by Giannini that incorporates many of the house’s icons, including the green/red/green web stripe and “Guccissima” leather.
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Gucci dresses Florence Welch for her North American tour in dresses from the Spring/Summer 2011 collection.
John Shearer, WireImage / Getty Images; Courtesy of Gucci
