THE RISE OF GUCCI
On a foggy day in 1899, an 18-year-old Italian left his hometown of Florence, driven by the promise of opportunity across the British Channel. He arrived in London, and as fate would have it, he found himself working as a lift boy at the prestigious Savoy Hotel - a place where the wealthy and powerful came to indulge in luxury.
Day after day, the boy operated the lift, his uniform immaculate, his demeanor polite yet unassuming. He was invisible to the guests, but to him, they were everything. Each arrival was a story in itself - a duchess with a monogrammed trunk, a tycoon with gleaming leather suitcases, a starlet draped in elegance. Their belongings spoke of opulence, craftsmanship, and a world far beyond his own modest reality.
The teenager observed in silence, his youthful imagination ignited by the artistry of the luggage that passed through his hands. He admired the fine stitching, the supple leather, and the way these objects seemed to hold their owners' dreams. It was here, at the age of 18, that a seed was planted - a vision of creating something extraordinary.
His name was Guccio Gucci.
By 1921, Guccio had returned to his hometown of Florence, where he established a small workshop dedicated to crafting exquisite leather goods. Drawing inspiration from the elegance he had witnessed at the Savoy in London, his creations laid the foundation for what would become one of the most iconic and respected brands in the world. The name Gucci is not just synonymous with luxury and quality; it also reflects the power of a dream brought to life through creativity and determination.
Now, over a century later, a gondola branded with the unmistakable Gucci logo is ascending through heavy fog and between snow-blanketed peaks near St. Moritz. The irony is undeniable. The young Italian boy who once spent his days ferrying the wealthy between floors at the Savoy, now has his name adorning lifts in places he could scarcely have imagined. From London to Florence, and now up to the pristine heights of St. Moritz, Guccio Gucci’s legacy has ascended far beyond the wildest dreams of this 18-year-old lift boy in London.
Artwork 018 / 050 frames this ironic scene high up in the Swiss Alps, honoring the determination of 18-year-old Guccio Gucci, who chose to pursue his ambitious dream and, in doing so, left a unique mark on the fashion world for the centuries to come.
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