Milestone Moments: Celebrating Three Fashion House’s Monumental Anniversaries
The UAE might turn 50 this month, but it’s not the only one that had a big birthday this year. A few tentpole fashion houses also celebrated some major milestones in 2021…
Gucci 100th Anniversary
Between the viral Gucci x Balenciaga ‘hacked’ collaboration collection, the Gucci Love Parade show that shut down Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles and dressing Lady Gaga in vintage Gucci for her role in the new House of Gucci film, well, Gucci pretty much dominated the fashion narrative this year. Then there was the brand’s launch of its Gucci Vault website that brings both new life to vintage Gucci pieces and shines a light on talented young designers the house feels the fashion world should know about. Oh, and let’s not forget the Gucci 100 limited-edition collection that was created to mark the centennial of the house that Guccio Gucci founded, Tom Ford made relevant again and Alessandro Michele evolved into a next-gen, inclusive original. If Gucci’s first 100 years are any indication, the next 100 are going to be a sight to behold.
Max Mara 70th Anniversary
Max Mara is the brand that has arguably given women around the world the most staple wardrobe pieces in their closets. It has, for 70 years, been a faithful friend to women in need of flattering fashion designed with longevity in mind, while never compromising on chicness. Buying a Max Mara camel-coloured coat is pretty much a rite of passage for any well-heeled woman. While a smartly tailored suit from the label has always been the perfect armour for a woman heading into a crucial job interview, a first day at the office, or an ‘all-eyes-on-me’ business presentation. To mark this moment in its history, the brand presented at 42-look collection called 1951, and each and every outfit designed by creative director Ian Griffiths, who has been with the house for close to 30 years, paid homage to its heritage as a fashion label women know they can always lean on.
Manolo Blahnik 50th Anniversary
Founded in 1971, the family-run Manolo Blahnik luxury-shoe brand has been pulling out all the stops for its big Five-O. Manolo himself designed a shimmering gold capsule collection of footwear for the occasion with some gilded mules created exclusively for his devoted UAE customers. The house has also recently launched an extensive online archive that lets fans of the maison virtually explore the brand’s universe. Five digital rooms have been conjured up online and they focus on the themes of family values, craftsmanship, the artistic eye, and of course, gives shout-outs to all of the most memorable moments in the brand’s history. And, almost as if it was fate, the new SATC revival limited-edition series, And Just Like That, will be dropping this month on HBO. The original made Manolo a household name, and no doubt this new series will transform it into a viral sensation.
Supplied images
Lead image courtesy of Instagram /@gucci, /@manoloblahnik and @maxmara
From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s December 2021 issue