21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Style Edit: Gucci celebrates its heritage with The Art of Silk, starring Ozark's Julia Garner with the 1966 Flora motif – and invites 9 international artists to reinterpret 5 enduring scarf themes
For those who appreciate the finer things in life, Gucci's silk scarves are more than accessories – they are small masterpieces. This month, the maison unveils 'The Art of Silk', a multifaceted project that celebrates
Gucci's rich history of craftsmanship in silk, while it also innovates and reimagines the art form for the modern era.
The Art of Silk celebrates Gucci's history of silk craftsmanship. Photo: Handout
Julia Garner, of Ozark breakout fame, stars in the accompanying vignette, Keep It Gucci: The Art of Silk, shot by Steven Meisel. Against the backdrop of a nocturnal cityscape, the 31-year-old actress embodies the fluid elegance of silk, while the maison's vibrant Flora motif – an iconic design conceived in 1966 by Italian illustrator Vittorio Accornero de Testa – reminds us that timeless elegance never fades.
Advertisement
Julia Garner in Keep It Gucci: The Art of Silk. Photo: Handout
Gucci's love affair with silk began in the 1950s, its early designs echoing the maison's signature leather goods. In 1958, Accornero collaborated with a distinguished silk producer from Como, Italy, to create the Tolda di Nave, a nautical-themed pattern that marked the beginning of decades of innovation in silk.
Floral motifs have been a feature of Gucci scarves since the 1960s. Photo: Handout
Throughout the 1960s, Accornero's imaginative designs transformed silk into wearable art, with nearly 80 scarves designed between 1960 and 1981 – from the intricate Flora, created for Princess Grace of Monaco, to nautical motifs and animalia prints. The iconic Horsebit motif, which debuted in 1953, and GG Monogram, introduced in 1969, further solidified Gucci's position in the world of silk artistry.
Equestrian themes have long been another Gucci staple. Photo: Handout
To pay homage to this legacy, Gucci's '90 x 90' project sees nine international artists invited to reinterpret five enduring scarf themes of the maison. The initiative blurs the lines between pop culture, fine art and fashion. The artists – Robert Barry, Everett Glenn, Sara Leghissa, Currynew, Jonny Niesche, Gio Pastori, Walter Petrone, Yu Cai and Inji Seo – bring their unique perspectives to the project, resulting in interpretations ranging from the wry and witty, to the beautiful and poignant.