What do you get when you mix the chic craftsmanship of Florence, the urban aesthetic of New York, and the unrelenting whimsy of a luxury fashion house? A pink and chrome Gucci outpost in the Meatpacking District. Last Thursday, the brand opened the doors to its new 9,000 square foot, two-level boutique. The space’s ceilings and clothing racks are comprised of metal gridding, a nod to the industrial history of the neighborhood. Just outside the door, the local buildings are coated in faded brick, and the streets are paved with well-worn cobblestones. Inside Gucci’s new shop, the cement floors are painted to resemble Florentine marble motifs, and reflective columns are scattered throughout, another staple of Italian architecture.
The brand’s ongoing commitment to sustainable manufacturing is referenced not only in the displayed clothing, but in the store’s very construction. Furnishings include restored second-hand items, the fitting rooms feature upcycled fabrics from past seasons, and surfaces are lined with Demetra, the Gucci plant-based leather alternative that regularly makes an appearance in its collections. The floor is 100 percent recyclable, created using Silipol, which is made using concrete and a marble and granite finishing layer. Now that the location is open for business, it is committed to running entirely on renewable energy.
The boutique’s first floor displays the brand’s accessories, shoes, luggage, and beauty items, while the upper level is dedicated to ready-to-wear collections and hosting private appointments. Visitors who make their way up the enormous, blue-lined staircase will emerge to plush carpeting and seating, as the upper floor was curated with a slightly softer, more intimate touch than the lavish lower level. The storefront also boasts an exclusive physical presence for Vault’s Gucci Continuum, an initiative that reworks past pieces and deadstock fabrics by inviting artists and brands to utilize them in upcoming designs and launches.
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