2011 will be the 90th anniversary of the luxury House of Gucci. And with the anniversary nearing, Gucci has a new “Forever Now” campaign along with the Gucci Artisan Traveling Tour to celebrate its traditions. The artisans of Gucci will be leaving Florence, Italy and traveling world wide for the first time. The Artisan Corner tour arrives in America on April 19 where it will stay open for two days at Gucci San Francisco on Stockton Street. On April 22, the corner moves to Beverly Hills, followed by Chicago on April 26th, and its final destination will be at the Gucci 5th Avenue Flagship in New York City on April 29.
Here is why you must check the tour out if you can make it to one of the four cities:
The artisans will be completing finishing touches on Gucci bags in each store. This is not only a way to learn about Gucci’s heritage and tradition of quality, but also a way to see how meticulous and hands-on Gucci artisans are. Being able to have a trained artisan complete the finishing touches on a bag you buy will show the quality, craftsmanship, and luxuriousness of the product you are buying.
Anyone can purchase one of the bags and have a Gucci artisan finish the construction of the bag. You must make a new purchase of one of the New Bamboo or New Pelham bags to have the artisans work on your bag in store (along with some small leather good styles). The craftsman will hand-stitch the handles, assemble the iconic bamboo tassels, prepare leather strips for woven stitching, and hand emboss customer’s initials if they would like. On top of that, if you purchase a bag to have the artisan complete it, there will be a special inside plaque embossed with the location and date of the event you attend.
If I lived in any of the cities this tour will be stopping at, this would be an event I would not miss. To watch a true artist practice their craft is no different than watching a talented dancer dance, singer sing, or any kind of performer perform.
Thats actually really cool! Marking my calendar now! (fb)
This sounds like such a great experience. Hope I can make it. (fb)
How cool! Woo Chicago (fb)
What a wonderful opportunity. Those that are able to attend and also to purchase a bag are soooo lucky. I’m jealous!!! That’s the price I pay for living and working in Texas.
(fb)
wish i could be there. hoping.. (sigh) (fb)
ohh I will def try to make it (fb)
How very neat to experience firsthand the crafting of their bags! Wish I could be there! (fb)
Ahhh Chicago…..sooooo tempting to buy a gucci bag now! (fb)
If I could afford a Pelham I’d be there on Monday! 🙁
I can see in this image that the brown Gucci artisan bag is made of pigskin- I don’t know why but I am sure that this bag is more $ 1200. I don’t think I would like pay that much for this leather.
Oh wow! expect a long line que for that! Its once in a lifetime event and all you people there in US take this chance, its a bag in a million.(fb)
Gucci bag with is unique design is bigtime, having it signatured personally made by an artisan right before your eyes make the bag more exquisite..(fb)
I think its a really cool idea, I would love to see a hand bag of mine being finished in front of me. It makes it more unique. (fb)
Too bad Gucci’s quality is not what it used to be…
I’m planning on checking this out on Monday in San Francisco — I’m hoping maybe they’ll have some of the new Fall preview bags too – I’m dying for that new red Sukey!!
I so wish I could be there….(fb)
That is very exciting for people living in those cities. Once in a life time opportunity to have your bag finished in front of you. Green with envy!! (fb)
wow I wish I could go but I have school and work..oh well (fb)
This is such a great, unique idea. Sadly I am not a big city girl, but for those of you who can go have fun.
Although I’m not into Gucci, I’ll try to make the tour here in Beverly Hills as I think it will be interesting. My best friend is into Gucci, so I’ll try to arrange it so that we can both go.
How exciting! Such a cool idea. (fb)
Fantastic oportunity, I hope this comes to Europe too
How amazing! Anyone know if they are coming to Canada? (fb)
ARTISAN EVENT WILL BE IN GUCCI TORONTO ON OCT 15-16,2010
COCKTAILS WILL BE ON OCT 15 AT 6-9 PM.
FOR MORE INFO : PLS CALL 416-963-5127
This *almost* makes me a Gucci convert (fb)
Fantastic, I’d love to see them working on a bag for me, OR not for me. (fb)
omgeeee. i wishh i had the budget for this, that sounds amaziiinggggg! ugh, im upset now. need to check my numbers see if i won the lotto so i can go. lsl (fb)
wow this sounds sooo amazing. on top of that the new pelham also looks sooo amazing. hehe. lucky those who get to attend the event as well as being able to purchase new gucci. (fb)
Interesting I agree with above the bag is Made from Pig can’t even Dare to..
I do want to see how they make these bags very interesting for my Industry!! Will be in Beverly Hills! Tuesday Chow Ladies
I highly recommend it. I was there when it came to Rome, italy and it was amazing to see how they make the bags starting from the design to the finished product.
Ah I wish I lived near or in those cities. What a great way to create buzz and remind people that Gucci is made in this way. I’d love to see this if I could (fb)
oh that would be so amazing to watch (fb)
I called the Gucci, Beverly Hills store, yesterday and the Artisan Corner will be here in Beverly Hills on April 22/23/24 during regular store hours of 10AM-6:30PM.
I am a BIG Gucci girl. <3 I will definitely be attending one of these…. oh la la <3 (fb)
I’m in chicago how or were do i get tickets?
I would love to watch that! Ah soo cool!!!(fb)
Love the b&w pic! What an opportunity also-to get an artisan to finish your bag!(fb)
This sounds so interesting, I’d love to check it out! (fb)
Wow, what a once in a lifetime experience and opputunity!! (fb)
wow, its interesting how they make the gucci bags, very cool (fb)
now that`s what I call one hell of a great event! Can`t wait!!
i wish i could see this and smell the shop. it must be magnificent! (fb)
This sounds amazing! (fb)
Cool! (fb)
That’s pretty awesome… I really respect the work and patience that go into crafting a leather bag. (fb)
It would be pretty interesting to go for the event! (fb)
i hope those who came and experience this event would share their experience with this event , the emotional excitement and the feeling of being there and owning a pair of Gucci polished just before your eyes.(fb)
Wow what an amazing thing to do for it’s loyal customers and followers. (fb)
I live in Vancouver, BC, but my SA has arranged for a New Bamboo bag to be made for me in New York and sent to me! I can’t wait!
However, I was told that only 20 Artisan bags will be made in North America and can only be purchased by invitation only?? (fb)
will they be going somewhere else apart from the us? is there a link i can find the dates? otherwise it’s not really a world tour if they’re only going to the US haha
Gucci has always been one of my favorite designers they have such style and class. I will be attending.
I just went to the Artisan Corner, yesterday, here in Beverly Hills. It was quite interesting and I was able to have a long chat with the woman, from Gucci, who is over the tour.
The Artisan Corner is during regular store hours. There are stands set up with artisans actually working on items right there. One artisan was on an old-style sewing machine and manually turning the wheel to stitch some parts of a handbag. There were a lot of handbag pieces lying around. Then there was a wooden handbag mold that is used to shape the leather.
We also chatted about how the bamboo is shaped to make the handles and how high heat has to be used to bend it and then it’s put in a brace to keep it bent and it takes, well over a month, I think it was, before it’s permanently bent in handle shape. And the bamboo that is used is taken from the roots as it’s more pliable.
We also chatted about alligator/crocodile/caiman skins as I grew up around many items made of such. They actually brought two beautiful skins that were on display. It was quite interesting and I went early as to be able to ask questions and chat.
I was told that they are on their way to Chicago now and then to New York and will arrive at the 5th Avenue store on April 29 and stay through May 01st.
Wow I wish I could have gone! I need to move to a major city! (fb)
I’m at it right now too bad they don’t let you take pictures. It’s amazing watching someone doing the design every stitch by hand. Def go see!!!!!!
oh my gosh!
That’s so cool! Wow. I wish I could have seen that!
That’s really creative to think of showing that in the stores.
(fb)
oh my gosh!
That’s so cool! Wow. I wish I could have seen that!
That’s really creative to think of showing that in the stores.
(fb)
They probably don’t have it in Canada. :/
educational! thanks! (fb)
what a wonderful event! (fb)
This would have been very interesting to see. (fb)
wow,gorgeous!!!
It was a super move by Gucci,not only do customers get a glimpse of the artisans at work,but also understand that bag making process is not as simple as it is perceived !!!
A lot of passion & work goes into one stunning piece!!
i would love to take a tour. (ipad)
GUCCI!!!!