Gucci 1953 Loafers.
By Jonathan Campbell
The first time I encountered Gucci's iconic 1953 loafer was when I got my first job in advertising, at Y&R London. It was September 1989. Since then, I’ve developed my own obsession with these shoes. I have the set, both brown and black, in leather and suede. Both formally and casually, I think they look better with age as they patina nicely […]
The first time I encountered Gucci's iconic 1953 loafer was when I got my first job in advertising, at Y&R London. It was September 1989.
There was a young but very senior executive who only wore Gucci loafers. He had dozens of pairs. You could hear him chinking around the office. The Gucci loafer makes a very distinctive chinking sound when you walk along as the snaffle jangles with your stride.
Since then, I’ve developed my own obsession with these shoes. I have the set, both brown and black, in leather and suede. They’re so soft and comfortable to wear, both formally and casually—I think they actually look better with age as they patina nicely.
Guccio Gucci was born in Florence on March 26, 1881. In 1897 he moved to London, where he began working as a porter at The Savoy hotel. Inspired by his observations of the wealthy guests and their luggage, he returned to Florence in 1902 with the dream that one day, high quality leather luggage would bear his name. In 1920 he started making high-end leather goods and equestrian leather accessories, such as saddles. In 1921 he opened the first Gucci boutique, on Via della Vigna Nuova.
In 1953, the Gucci company opened its first shop in New York. Guccio noticed that the Americans loved their moccasin loafers, so he decided to make a very Italian version. His mission was to redefine the classic American loafer and create a shoe smart enough to be worn with a suit but also soft enough to be worn casually. He also wanted to reflect his brand's equestrian heritage and high-quality leather craftsmanship, which is why the loafer has a snaffle (or horse bit) on the upper. The 1953 loafer was Gucci’s first ever shoe. That same year, the company bought the Palazzo Settimanni in Florence and set up their factory there. To this day, Florence is a centre of excellence for leather crafts – and the Palazzo is now Gucci’s archive.
By 1969, Gucci was selling 84,000 loafers every year in the US market, to customers including the likes of Kennedy and Agnelli. Its quintessential loafer soon established itself as a design icon, gaining inclusion in the Metropolitan Museum of Arts' permanent collection in 1973.
I met my eldest daughter for lunch in the achingly hip East End of London the other day, and as we walked along I could hear that unmistakable chink.
“You’ve got Gucci’s on?” I asked.
“Yes, they're vintage,” came the reply.
It seems the Gucci loafer really is a timeless icon, with appeal to all generations.
The Gucci loafer is the eternal soul of Gucci. It represents not only Gucci’s heritage and quality craftsmanship, but most importantly, an understated, glamorous lifestyle.
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