Gucci Fetes New Book at Maison Assouline

LONDON — As London warms up for summer, the cocktail parties have commenced.

On Wednesday night, Gucci celebrated the launch of its tome “Gucci: The Art of Silk” at the Maison Assouline store in Piccadilly.

Guests included Lola Bute, Jazzy De Lisser, Deba Hekmat, Suzy Menkes, Camille Charriere and Lewis Dalton Gilbert.

Jo-Ann Furniss, who curated the book published by Assouline, was also in attendance.

The book store was decorated with floral prints from the book; an array of silk scarves on mannequin heads, and floral arrangements imitating the images in the book.

The Kering-owned brand may have just named Demna its new creative director, but the book is a tribute to Gucci’s 104-year history with a focus on its silk craftsmanship and archival designs that have contributed to its brand awareness.

As reported, Gucci invited nine international artists to reinterpret five selected themes rooted in the brand’s archives: flora, fauna, nautical, equestrian and GG Monogram.

Gucci began to develop its silk craftsmanship in the 1950s, and the earliest designs featured motifs inspired by the brand’s signature leather goods.

The first scarf that was precisely dated harks back to 1958, produced in Como, Italy — the nautical-themed “Tolda di Nave .”

Throughout the 1960s, Gucci elevated its scarf designs by collaborating with illustrator Vittorio Accornero de Testa, whose intricate details and vivacious motifs contributed to Gucci’s stature in the segment. Between 1960 and 1981, Accornero designed nearly 80 scarves, transforming silk into wearable art.