A Brief History Of Time

The Gucci Aria collection is a study in how a fashion brand can weather the tumultuous tides of time – and come out even fresher

- Hillary Kang

At 100, the Gucci brand has weathered many monumental events: A World War, the changing tides of the fashion world, and, of course, many a scandal (see the much-hyped 'House of Gucci'). As the house celebrates its centennial this year, creative director Alessandro Michele was faced with a new challenge: How does one fully capture the history of a storied, 100-year-old brand such as Gucci without falling prey to mawkish sentiment and cliches?

For Michele, that involves getting a little philosophical. His pre-show letter is filled with quotes from creatives and academics throughout history. But perhaps the most telling is one from Spanish philosopher María Zambrano, who believed that within art lay the potential for transcendence: It is that concept of endless births that Michele taps on for Gucci Aria.