To coincide with the unveiling of Gucci's Spring/Summer 2024 Men's collection during Milan Fashion Week, the brand celebrated the brand's iconic Horsebit loafer with an exclusive artistic exhibition.
Courtesy of Gucci
The exhibition, titled "Gucci Horsebeat Society," celebrates the 70th anniversary of Gucci's iconic Horsebit loafer and features immersive installations by 10 international artists, designers, and creatives. The space also served as the backdrop for the Gucci Spring/Summer 2024 Men's collection presentation. This multifaceted exhibition, taking place at Milan art space Spazio Maiocchi, will open with an invitation-only cocktail party (6:00 PM - 10:00 PM Milan time) on June 16, 2023, and will be open to the public on June 17 and 18, from 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM.
Courtesy of Gucci
The Horsebit, now an enduring Gucci symbol, is a piece of hardware invented by Aldo Gucci in 1953 to decorate loafers. Its design, consisting of two rings and a bar, was inspired by the shape of a horse's bridle. Since then, it has been repeatedly reinterpreted over the past 70 years as a symbol of the brand's story and community, appearing as hardware and motifs in Gucci accessories, jewelry and clothing.
Courtesy of Gucci
Courtesy of Gucci
Courtesy of Gucci
The "Gucci Horsebeat Society" exhibition explores the history of the Horsebit and its roots in the world of equestrianism, reimagining the tradition of the riding club as a social gathering in a contemporary space blended with the spirit of artistic counterculture. The concept is embodied in a multi-sensory, multi-dimensional "house" – a simulated living space for artworks created specifically for the exhibition. The unexpected dialogue that emerges when works by 10 artists working in a variety of fields, from physical applied art to digital art, come together in this special house, offering an abstract and innovative interpretation of the timeless symbol of the Horsebit.
Courtesy of Gucci
Since its introduction in 1953, the Horsebit loafer, combining casual elegance, has reflected the evolution of fashion over time into a freer means of self-expression. In the 1960s, it was incorporated into the wardrobes of cultural icons and film stars such as Francis Ford Coppola, Fred Astaire, and Alain Delon, before being adopted by a new generation of teenagers in the 1970s, including Jodie Foster, pictured skateboarding in 1977. In the 1980s, it was beloved by career women as they rose to prominence in society, and in the 1990s, it was reinvented alongside the sensual sophistication of Gucci style. Then, in the 2010s, as Gucci redefined luxury, the Horsebit graced the shearling-lined Princetown slipper, which became a new shoe classic.
Courtesy of Gucci
Featuring Artists:
Bolade Banjo, Candela Capitan, Ed Davis, Charlie Engman, Sylvie Fleury, Anna Franceschini, Gyuhan Lee, Harry Nuriev, Pitterpatter, Blatant Space
#GucciHorsebit
#MFW
All images: Courtesy of Gucci
For inquiries:
Gucci Japan Client Service
0120-99-2177
http://www.gucci.com
Courtesy of GucciThe exhibition, titled "Gucci Horsebeat Society," celebrates the 70th anniversary of Gucci's iconic Horsebit loafer and features immersive installations by 10 international artists, designers, and creatives. The space also served as the backdrop for the Gucci Spring/Summer 2024 Men's collection presentation. This multifaceted exhibition, taking place at Milan art space Spazio Maiocchi, will open with an invitation-only cocktail party (6:00 PM - 10:00 PM Milan time) on June 16, 2023, and will be open to the public on June 17 and 18, from 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM.
Courtesy of GucciThe Horsebit, now an enduring Gucci symbol, is a piece of hardware invented by Aldo Gucci in 1953 to decorate loafers. Its design, consisting of two rings and a bar, was inspired by the shape of a horse's bridle. Since then, it has been repeatedly reinterpreted over the past 70 years as a symbol of the brand's story and community, appearing as hardware and motifs in Gucci accessories, jewelry and clothing.
Courtesy of GucciCourtesy of GucciCourtesy of GucciThe "Gucci Horsebeat Society" exhibition explores the history of the Horsebit and its roots in the world of equestrianism, reimagining the tradition of the riding club as a social gathering in a contemporary space blended with the spirit of artistic counterculture. The concept is embodied in a multi-sensory, multi-dimensional "house" – a simulated living space for artworks created specifically for the exhibition. The unexpected dialogue that emerges when works by 10 artists working in a variety of fields, from physical applied art to digital art, come together in this special house, offering an abstract and innovative interpretation of the timeless symbol of the Horsebit.
Courtesy of GucciSince its introduction in 1953, the Horsebit loafer, combining casual elegance, has reflected the evolution of fashion over time into a freer means of self-expression. In the 1960s, it was incorporated into the wardrobes of cultural icons and film stars such as Francis Ford Coppola, Fred Astaire, and Alain Delon, before being adopted by a new generation of teenagers in the 1970s, including Jodie Foster, pictured skateboarding in 1977. In the 1980s, it was beloved by career women as they rose to prominence in society, and in the 1990s, it was reinvented alongside the sensual sophistication of Gucci style. Then, in the 2010s, as Gucci redefined luxury, the Horsebit graced the shearling-lined Princetown slipper, which became a new shoe classic.
Courtesy of GucciFeaturing Artists:
Bolade Banjo, Candela Capitan, Ed Davis, Charlie Engman, Sylvie Fleury, Anna Franceschini, Gyuhan Lee, Harry Nuriev, Pitterpatter, Blatant Space
#GucciHorsebit
#MFW
All images: Courtesy of Gucci
For inquiries:
Gucci Japan Client Service
0120-99-2177
http://www.gucci.com
