Vasco Gucci
The Story of Vasco Gucci
The Gucci family is one of Italy’s most infamous fashion houses. Their storied history includes murder, madness, glamour and greed.
Its latest film, House of Gucci, focuses on the dramatic murder of its business head Maurizio Gucci (played by Adam Driver). The film also chronicles his divorce from his wife, Patrizia Reggiani, which led to his tragic death.
History
The story of vasco gucci is a textbook example of how a family business can turn into a shambles. It was full of greed, ego, sibling rivalry, foolish expansion, and murder – all of which is a recipe for a dynasty that falls apart.
Founder Guccio opened a shop in Florence that sold leather luggage, travel accessories, and saddles for horses made by local artisans. He branded his products with monogrammes, printed initials, and heraldic shields.
He also introduced pigskin and bamboo handles. This was a big deal in the 1940s, when Italy had a League of Nations embargo against leather imports.
In 1947, after the war ended, Gucci’s artisans started using Japanese bamboo to craft unique handles that were treated with a varnished technique that was patented. These handles would later become synonymous with Gucci’s bags.
Upon his death in 1953, Guccio left his company to his wife Aida Calvelli and their three sons Aldo, Vasco, and Rodolfo. Each had their own role in the operation of the company: Aldo focused on international expansion, Rodolfo handled Italian shops, and Vasco supervised production.
Style
Founded in 1881, Italian luxury leather goods label vasco gucci is known worldwide for its dynamism, creativity and artistic aesthetic. The company’s iconic horsebit metal clasp and green-and-red woven stripe are also hallmarks of the brand’s style.
In the early days of the label, Guccio’s equestrian influence was seen in his designs for saddles and other horse-riding accessories. After the death of house founder Guccio in 1953, the company was divided equally among his five sons, Aldo, Vasco and Rodolfo (their brother Enzo passed away as a child).
By the 1970s, family tensions had reached an all-time high when Paolo’s uncle, Rodolfo, interfered with his work as head of the Florence factory and chief designer. Eventually, Paolo was forced to leave several different positions at the family-owned business.
This is not the first time that family squabbles have erupted in the name of the world-famous brand, and it may be just one of many to come. But despite the public battles that have been waged between different family members, the fashion house has continued to thrive and expand its reach.
Production
Gucci, a luxury fashion, leather goods and accessories brand, is known for its dynamism, creativity, artistic aesthetic and meticulous detailing. The label has always pushed boundaries to stay ahead of trends and cater to a global clientele.
The luxury brand was founded by Guccio Gucci in 1921 and has remained family owned throughout its history. Several generations of the brand’s founding members worked on production and design.
Aldo, a son of Guccio and Aida Gucci, was instrumental in the brand’s growth. He opened Gucci stores in cities worldwide and added new product lines, including designer shoes, ready-to-wear clothing, watches, and perfume.
His brothers Vasco and Rodolfo also worked on production and design, but their relationship was strained at times. After Guccio died in 1953, the company was divided among his brothers with each retaining 50% ownership of the brand.
A six-year legal battle ensued, which ended with Paolo Gucci forcing his uncle Aldo out of the company. Later, his cousin Maurizio took over the role of majority stakeholder and began to struggle with management issues. He sold his shares in 1989 to Investcorp.
Marketing
As a brand, vasco gucci has cyclically regenerated and reinvented itself in the fashion industry. During its 100-year history, it has survived family feuds, take-over attempts, a near-bankruptcy, a public listing, storybook turnarounds and even murder.
During the 1990s, American designer Tom Ford joined the brand to help revitalize it. He helped bring the label to new heights of glamour and subsequently turned it into a must have for celebrities.
Since then, the company has also partnered with social media stars to attract the attention of the millennial generation, a demographic that is often influenced by online recommendations and word-of-mouth marketing. These collaborations have resulted in Gucci gaining many Instagram users into luxury-brand stars, and are a key part of the company’s marketing strategies today!
One of the most controversial advertisements is an ad that features a model with her pants pulled down and her pubic hair shaved into a “G.” This ad was received with a lot of controversy, mainly due to its offensive nature. This ad sparked an immense amount of debate and even had the Advertising Standards Authority in the United Kingdom requesting it be banned due to its “harmful” effect on society.
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