Culture, art and fashion: London Tate Modern to host Gucci's Cruise Collection 2025 this May

A Gucci SS24 ensemble as shown at the 2023
Gucci Cosmos exhibition in London.

Gucci, the renowned luxury Italian fashion house, has maintained a longstanding affinity with London, a connection set to deepen this May.  

Sabato De Sarno, its creative director, will unveil his inaugural Cruise 2025 collection at London's iconic Tate Modern museum, solidifying the bond between Florence and London.

A photo of Sabato De Sarno by David Sims and a catwalk photo by Gaspar Ruiz Lindberg showing the Gucci Ancora fashion show in Milan in 2023 were exhibited at the Gucci Cosmos exhibition in London in 2023.

As detailed in the 2023 Gucci Cosmos exhibition in London, the tale of Gucci commences with a journey from Florence to London.  In 1897, a young Florentine by the name of Guccio Gucci embarked on a career at The Savoy hotel, serving as a porter. Immersed in the refined culture of international high society and captivated by the luggage they carried, he returned to Florence in 1902, opening his inaugural boutique on Via della Vigna Nuova. Specializing in English-style luggage, Gucci's venture laid the foundation for the iconic brand we know today.

 Sabato de Sarno, as Gucci's creative director, shoulders the responsibility of steering the House's vision across its collections while upholding the tradition of reflecting and shaping contemporary trends. Gucci's unmistakable equestrian-inspired emblems have evolved into quintessential elements of the brand's identity, adorning bags, suitcases, clothing, and accessories, serving as both decorative motifs and integral components.

Scheduled for Monday, May 13 2024, Gucci Cruise 2025 coincides with its endorsement of the Tate's upcoming exhibition, "Electric Dreams," slated for autumn. The choice of the Tate is strategic, marking the commencement of Gucci's three-year partnership with the institution and its campaign to champion young creatives, a testament to the brand's dedication to nurturing emerging cultural voices.

Gucci's historical ties to London trace back to 1897 when its founder, Guccio Gucci, worked as a luggage porter at The Savoy hotel, drawing inspiration for his leather goods range before establishing his eponymous brand in Florence in 1921.

During the 2023 Gucci Cosmos exhibition at London's 180 The Strand, the magnificent clothes and accessories were strikingly complemented by the opulent set design by creative British artist Es Devlin.

Just a few months back, spanning from October to December 2023, Gucci unveiled its Cosmos exhibition in London, housed at 180 Studio in The Strand. With the creative set designed by the contemporary British artist Es Devlin, this itinerant archival exhibition offered an immersive journey into epoch-defining creativity.

Gucci Cosmos traced one of many conceivable constellations, linking the ideas and innovations catalyzed by the brand's creative directors and artisans over its 102-year history, spanning from its inception through the eras of Tom Ford, Frida Giannini, Alessandro Michele, and Sabato De Sarno. This exhibition led guests into a recreated Savoy Hotel lobby, where founder Guccio Gucci worked in the 1890s, before entering 11 sections focus on specialties of the house.

Renowned Italian fashion theorist and critic, Maria Luisa Frisa, meticulously curated a selection of treasures, many making their inaugural voyage from the archive, to illustrate how Gucci has not only mirrored the zeitgeist but also played a pivotal role in shaping it.

Fast forward to May 2024, undoubtedly, the Gucci Cruise 2025 showcase at London Tate Modern promises to be a captivating ode to the brand, and underscores Gucci's emphasis on the intersection of art, fashion, and heritage. "Tate Modern serves as a nexus of creativity and discourse, where diverse perspectives converge to ignite meaningful dialogues and cultivate cultural exchange," Gucci reportedly commented. "The synergy of art and architecture fosters an environment that stimulates innovation and pushes boundaries, mirroring the dynamism of the city itself."

Tate Modern now joins an esteemed list of venues of culturally significant site to host the brand.  Against the historic façade of Tate Modern, this promises to be a show that demands attention.  Gucci has previously showcased its Cruise collections in illustrious venues around the world, such as Seoul’s historic Gyeongbokgung Palace; London’s Westminster Abbey; Florence’s Palazzo Pitti and the Roman necropolis Alyscamps in Arles, France. 

However, recent developments within the luxury conglomerate Kering, Gucci's parent company alongside Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, and others, paint a more sobering picture. Kering issued an unusual profit warning, anticipating a 20% decline in Gucci sales for the first quarter of 2024.

In a statement, Kering acknowledged the persisting challenges in trading throughout the first half of 2024, projecting a comparable decline in consolidated revenue of approximately 10% for the first quarter of 2024 compared to the previous year's first quarter.

Photos at Gucci Cosmos by Lucia Carpio.

Trade Fair: George Davies To Headline Pure London Content Programme in July

by Staff Writer

UK retail legend George Davies will be a keynote speaker at the PURE London* international fashion trade fair this July, the organisers has announced.  The event will take place at the iconic Olympia in London's Kensington July 16-18 2023. 

George Davies
Photo from PURE London

Known in the industry as a master of the retail world with a career that spans more than four decades, Davies is widely acknowledged as the most successful fashion innovator and designer of his time and is renowned for revolutionising the British high-street. 

Davies is credited with creating three of the UK’s most successful fashion businesses, NEXT, George at Asda and PER UNA at Marks &Spencer. Davies paved the way for many brands to flourish by transforming the retail landscape.  His latest venture is the GWD brand which was launched to the UK at Pure London in February earlier this year.

At his talk session, Davies will be joined on the Pure London catwalk by prolific trade journalist and author Eric Musgrave, formerly Editorial Director for Drapers magazine, Founder of FHM and CEO of The UK Fashion & Textile Association.  Musgrave has written for many of the most respected newspapers and magazines in the UK and abroad and published his own coffee table book, Sharp Suits.  

Davies and Musgrave have a long-standing friendship within the fashion industry setting Musgrave as the perfect partner for this not to be missed interview with Davies discussing his career, his thoughts on the UK fashion market today, the future of UK retail and more.

Davies will also be showcasing the latest collection from his contemporary fashion brand GWD as a Pure London exhibitor. A feminine collection that includes Davies’ signature mix of occasionwear and smart-casual attire the collection includes fine embellishments, intricate lace designs and beautiful trims, bold prints and vibrant colours.

Gloria Sandrucci, Event Director at Pure London says, “We are incredibly excited to welcome such an icon of the retail industry to Pure London.  Davies keynote will not only look back on his hugely successful career and the impact he has had on the UK fashion market but also address the future of fashion and the challenges facing brands and retailers today. The next edition of Pure London in July aims to deliver many insightful conversations and we look forward to revealing more details of our content programme and fantastic line-up of speakers.”

 The upcoming edition of Pure London will take place at Kensington Olympia in London, 16-18 July 2023. 

* Pure London provides a global platform for international womenswear, accessory and shoe brands and designers to meet with the UK buyers, agents and showrooms and is held twice a year to showcase the best of the season’s must-have collections, latest trends, and exclusive business insights from around the world.