Gucci Celebrates Silk Craftsmanship Legacy with Nine Artists and Assouline Book

Step into an enchanting world where timeless heritage meets cutting-edge creativity, as Gucci pays homage to its silk roots through a series of innovative collaborations and a new collector’s volume.

A Timeless Heritage Embraces a New Chapter

Gucci is entering a pivotal moment in its 104-year story, unveiling a comprehensive celebration of its renowned silk craftsmanship even as the house welcomes Demna as its new creative director. This dual focus on the future and the past reveals Gucci’s dedication to building upon its deeply rooted brand awareness and artisanal excellence. Alongside fresh leadership, the brand has launched the “Art of Silk” project, shining a spotlight on archival designs that have transcended decades of evolving fashion.

From the 1950s to Today: The Silk Odyssey

Gucci’s relationship with silk stretches back to the 1950s, when the brand began experimenting with delicate foulards produced in Como, Italy. One of the earliest precisely dated pieces, the nautical-themed “Tolda di Nave / Deck of a Ship”, emerged in 1958 and showcased the playful yet refined motifs that would go on to define Gucci’s scarf portfolio. Throughout the 1960s, illustrator Vittorio Accornero de Testa elevated Gucci’s scarf designs by bringing intricate detail and vivid color to each creation. Between 1960 and 1981, he produced nearly 80 unique prints, turning silk into wearable art and capturing the attention of a fashion world ready for inspired storytelling through textiles. By the late 1960s, Gucci had already extended scarf prints to shirts and dresses, demonstrating how silk could infuse ready-to-wear collections with striking, instantly recognizable motifs.

An Ode to Iconic Motifs

Over decades of experimentation and evolution, five themes have stood at the heart of Gucci’s silk artistry: Flora, Fauna, Nautical, Equestrian, and the GC Monogram. Flora, first introduced in 1966 at the request of Princess Grace of Monaco, features 43 varieties of flowers, plants, and insects painstakingly printed in 37 separate steps, each colored applied by hand. The lively Fauna prints, debuted in 1969, depict lions, birds, and butterflies, underscoring Gucci’s affinity for bold, nature-inspired imagery. These vibrant themes quickly expanded into jewel, ready-to-wear, and accessories, all while the GC Monogram – evolving from an earlier Diamante pattern – solidified its status as a globally recognized hallmark of the brand. Nautical references, seen in the earliest scarves, remain a testament to Gucci’s adventurous spirits, while Equestrian influences introduced in the 1950s led to enduring symbols such as the Horsebit and the Gucci Web, both now synonymous with the house.

Global Voices: Reimagining Heritage

In an effort to marry its classic themes with modern-day artistry, Gucci has launched the “90x90” initiative, referencing the standard 90 cm x 90 cm dimension of its iconic silk twill scarf. Nine international artists – Robert Barry, Everett Glen, Sara Leghissa, Currynew, Jonny Niesche, Gio Pastori, Walter Petrone (also known as Wallie), Yi Cai, and Inji Seo – have each reinterpreted one of the five recurring motifs. Their work infuses fresh cultural perspectives, conceptual approaches, and contemporary aesthetics into the brand’s historic codes. Robert Barry, an American conceptual art pioneer, has noted that “wearable art” aligns with his desire for a public art experience, while multidisciplinary artist Everett Glen envisions scarves as a personal canvas for storytelling. Shanghai-based illustrator Currynew has embraced silk’s dynamic surface, which changes as the scarf is worn, and Italian illustrator Walter Petrone highlights nature’s mysterious beauty in his vivid designs. Yu Cai, an Italy – based Chinese animator active in the NFT space, sees silk scarves as a unique intersection between traditional and modern techniques, and many of the participating artists echo a shared belief that Gucci’s legacy offers limitless possibility for creative reinterpretation.

The Art of Silk: A Collector’s Volume

In addition to these new scarves, Gucci is set to release “Gucci: The Art of Silk” in collaboration with Assouline, delivering an in-depth look at the cultural significance and craftsmanship behind the brand’s foulards. Curated by Jo-Ann Furniss, with contributions from writers such as Jennifer Sliwka and Christopher Wallace, the volume spans 300 pages and arrives encased in a silk-printed slipcase marked with a foil-stamped Gucci logo. From the earlies scarf developments in the 1950s to the ongoing “90x90” project, this lavish book captures how Gucci’s tradition of silk artistry has remained essential to the house’s identity. “Gucci: The Art of Silk” will be available through Gucci.com, the Assouline website, Assouline bookstores, and select Gucci boutiques worldwide.

Looking Ahead

On April 1, the brand will commence the sale of the “90x90” scarves and launch a dedicated campaign focusing on the storied foulard segment. The following day, Gucci will host activations in Paris – anchored by an event at its Rue Saint-Honoré store and a special dinner – further illuminating the Art of Silk project and the creative processes behind it. In bringing together long-established codes and contemporary artistry, Gucci illustrates how heritage can continually inspired the future.

For more on the launch of “Gucci: The Art of Silk”, the insights of nine visionary artists, and exclusive access to upcoming events, follow HAYAT1ST as we explore this dialogue between tradition and innovation – one that reaffirms Gucci’s place at the forefront of luxury, craftsmanship, and modern style.