Gucci Collaborates with Liberty on the Ideal Retro Yet Modern Collection

The archival Liberty floral print sits atop one of the most sought after bags from the House.

On the West End of London sits a six-story Tudor building that houses one of the most alluring luxury department stores in the world, Liberty. Many know the store for its close connection to art and culture, but in the fashion realm Liberty London is most famous for its bold and floral print fabrics. Gucci’s Autumn Winter 2020 fashion show in Milan debuted a few special projects from the House, the most notable being that with Liberty.

Alessandro Michele is known for his personal eclectic style that translates into his vision for the brand, one that pulls from influences both of the past and present. In this collaboration, Michele partnered with Liberty to dig into its archives and found designs and patterns that were little-used at the time they were created. For Michele, who is consciously thoughtful in the meaning behind his work, selecting these prints helped share memories from the past and reemerge them in the present.

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The collaboration spans a wide assortment of pieces, from bags to clothing to shoes and accessories, and most of the prints are floral themed which holds a strong association with the Liberty brand. The pairing of feminine and delicate floral prints with inherent retro touches matches the aesthetic Alessandro Michele established for his vision of Gucci. And though the prints are light and whimsical, the Gucci Liberty script used on some items ties back to the this Gucci collection’s other major theme: grunge.

Gucci 1955 Horsebit Liberty London Bag
$2650

Of bags that this print suits well, Gucci could not have picked a better match than the beloved Gucci 1955 Horsebit. The retro floral print suits this handbag so seamlessly, one could think it was one of the original designs intended. This 1955 Horsebit was introduced for Cruise 2020 and recreated from an archival design, focusing on the House’s horsebit detailing as a focal point while also creating the ideal sized shoulder bag with ample organization and seamlessly sleek curves on the exterior. The light pink and light blue floral motif sits atop ivory leather and is accented by the iconic Horsebit detailing in gold-toned hardware.

On the inside you’ll find cotton linen lining and three gussets with one zipper pocket and one open pocket. The interior allows for easy organization and the gussets provide a captivating exterior shape from the side. The shoulder strap on this bag can be adjusted from a 9.8″ to a 17.7″ drop and it features the same floral print. This is a bag that fits more than you’d imagine, making it an ideal daily carry and a bag that will be picked up in your closet time and time again. Overall dimensions are 9.8″W x 7″H x 3.1″D.

The Gucci 1955 Horsebit Liberty London Bag offers a whimsical fashion piece that works for everything for your Autumn wardrobe to Winter and Spring/Summer. A pair of jeans and a casual top would allow this bag to shine and of course it’s easy to dress up. If you are still sticking to the athleisure look, cream sweats and a cool pair of trainers would be completed and elevated with this design. This bag is an online exclusive to Gucci.com.

Gucci 1955 Liberty London Small Duffle Bag
$3250

A floral-printed Gucci 1955 Horsebit Duffle Bag is also offered as part of a small selection of luggage. And while this bag is deemed luggage, it can be used for daily carrying if you prefer a larger bag (theres a smaller version as well). What will catch your attention on this bag is the Gucci Liberty Art Nouveau style script in black on the front of the bag. While the floral motif is light and innocent, the dark lettering is a nod to the grunge vibe much of the Autumn Winter 2020 collection showcased and the pairing of two opposites comes together in a delightful way. Much like the 1955 Horsebit bag, the distinctive Duffle bag also features the light pink and light blue floral print by Liberty London over the entire exterior of the bag. The leather luggage tag is a nice touch, plus you could use this tag on other items if you wish.

The interior is highly spacious, with the extended zippers on the outside going from the bottom of one side all the way around to the bottom of the other. When you open the bag, you’ll find a light cotton linen lining, which makes locating items much easier. Along with that is an interior zipper pocket with a phone case, and 1 interior open pocket with two compartments. The double top handles are one way you can carry this bag or there’s a detachable and adjustable shoulder strap with a 20.5″ drop. While our days of office commutes may still be on pause, many are starting to travel on short trips again and a bag like this allows for ample space for your staycation needs and beyond. Overall dimensions are 15.5″W x 13.4″H x 5.7″D.

There are more items as part of this large collaboration, each as whimsical and inviting as the next. A wide variety of hats are offered, each as casually cool as the next, and the shoes allow for dressing up or down with your footwear choice being the focal point of your outfit. This collection highlights the strengths Alessandro Michele brings to the brand – the ability to create something entirely modern while pulling from some of the strongest memories and elements we crave from the past.

Shop the entire Gucci Liberty collection.

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Sajid Bin Mohammad

I think the floral would have gone pretty well with the Jackie 1961 and the Zumi top handle.

Megs Mahoney Dusil

I would love it on the Jackie as well – this print on Alessandro’s Gucci bags is so well suited!

Megan

There’s no doubt that it’s a retro print. I hate it.

Lori

I love Liberty and I love Liberty prints…just not these Liberty prints. They are too busy for me. Oh well.

Justice

I never liked Liberty to start with… even when Liberty shirts were all the rage so many years ago. I find this collection very unappealing, especially the bag with the huge GUCCI LIBERTY printed brand names. Not for me at all.

Julie Porowski

Yup, that ruins it.

Passerine

Agree, GUCCI LIBERTY could be printed on the packaging (boxes, wrapping paper, etc) for these products, but not the products themselves.

Sarah

I love love love this! And such a cool way to photograph it!

Sandy

I like the bags although a flower print is not really me. What I love is the pointy toe flats!

Jame

Same the shoes are great! These prints are not my print at all, I like florals that are less densely floraled. But it seems like these bags are perfect for the cottagecore moment we are in now.

Sparky

I love Liberty but not here. These are HORRID

Irma Segovia

It’s hard to see the bags against the same backdrop. I feel like I was doing one of those 3D picture books.

memsy

Yes, I agree! I can barely see the bags. They’ve blended into the background. Horrible idea to display them this way.

Sheila (Maddy Loves)

I agree. My eyes felt so tired just trying to make out what the item was and what was background.

David Cardillo

Busy, busy busy busy! Like those busy bees which stung me nearly to death a couple summers ago. Guess I’m just a boringly traditional doggie.. ? ?

Donna Warder

Love the Gucci pointed toe flats. Everything else I don’t care for.

Wendy

I think the point of the collab is to be busy, that’s what Liberty prints are about! With a solid colored top and pants, these items would be stunning!

anonymouspeeps

…good to know that my Liberty Sperrys will look current, even through I got them like 6 years ago…

JM

I own a Barbour jacket with Liberty print detail, but these tiny floral prints for Gucci just remind me of dated wallpaper. Would prefer it if it were just used for the interior canvas lining of their bags.

Semla Janssons

What is the definition of a “liberty print”? /A girl from Sweden

L W

Liberty of London, commonly known as Liberty’s, is a luxury department store in Great Marlborough Street, in the West End of London. Known around the world for its close connection to art and culture, it is most famous for its bold and floral print fabrics. Heres a Forbes link with a story of Liberty 🙂 https://www.forbes.com/sites/loreleimarfil/2019/05/30/how-libertys-fabrics-business-evolved-over-the-years/#ae2eedb2dab5

Selma Janssons

Thank you so much for the information! ?

Arielle

Obsessed with the 1955 bag, are they going to restock?!

Passerine

I like the concept and Gucci can do good things with print (I love my Tian Boston Bag) but this is the worst possible print they could have chosen. It looks like a Laura Ashley reject. I showed this to a 90+ yo female relative and even she said it was too fussy and old-ladyish (when you hear that from a 93 yo, you know it’s a bad choice!). There are so many wonderful Liberty prints they could have picked from (one of the Irma or Strawberry Thief patterns, for example), you have to wonder what Gucci was thinking when they opted for this one.

Sue

I love these bags and how creative you pictured them! It feels very high fashion

fran123

Atrocious! looks like a curtain, and ugly curtain at that. lol

Gene mccarley

My eyes, my eyes….

Vondradee Courtenay

This is awful. It looks like they took this from a 70’s Little House on the Prairie bonnet. Awful.

DanD

For all you people crying “its too busy its too busy!” that was the POINT. The shoot was obviously over-the-TOP and when you have a print like that you either have to go basic black or over-the-top and its Gucci, so they went over-the-top! Clearly. I really like it, you could definitely pair this pattern with tons of clothing choices. I hope they made some things with that blue pattern as well (I haven’t checked yet) as I like that one the best!

Ping

This is simply disgusting. I feel sorry for the SAs who has to sell this crap. I like the comment Laura Ashley reject..try Vera Bradley rejects (my former 87 year old mother in law has those bags:(. The last good Gucci was the Sylvie bag. I don’t mind classics or retro style, but the word “style” is missing from this.

Vicky

I don’t get why they would have the urge to put that Big black Letters on the bag like that. It simply ruin the bag.

Ally

Im surprised so many of you don’t love these, people on the forums do and so do I! Wish I could get my hands on the horsebit, are they getting more?!

Kenzie

I love a liberty print when it comes to clothes and scarves…… that may be it…..

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