Gucci is the latest designer brand to put a focus on sustainability. As consumers begin to shop more eco-friendly brands, products that don’t harm the environment have become highly marketable. Like its luxury counterparts (Prada, Burberry, Stella McCartney and more), Gucci is establishing new ways of thinking when it comes to sustainability.
The brand has been following a ten-year plan, committing to amplify its focus on social and environmental sustainability. This sustainable business model was announced in 2015, and Gucci has aimed to hit specific milestones by 2025 like reducing its environmental footprint and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions.
And now, as the brand continues to refocus its energy on bettering the environment through innovation and creativity to reinforce positive changes, Gucci has released its first-ever eco-friendly line. The Off The Grid collection features bags, shoes, RTW and accessories that focus on the reuse of materials and textiles, which not only wastes less, but also minimizes the use of new resources.
One of the main materials used in the collection is ECONYL, which is a regenerated nylon 100% obtained from pre and post-consumer waste like old fishing nets, carpets and other plastics. These types of materials harm marine life and would otherwise end up in landfills. The collection also sources other sustainable materials and alternatives such as metal or chrome free tanned leather, recycled polyester as well as recycled hardware.
As for the manufacturing process, Gucci Off the Grid creates new ECONYL materials as part of the Gucci-ECONYL Pre Consumer Fabric Take Back Program. Leather scraps from the collection are also recovered and upcycled as part of the Gucci-Up program. Take a look below at bags from the collection, all of which are available via Gucci.com, along with RTW, shoes and more from the capsule.
Gucci Off The Grid Shoulder Bag ($1,190)
Gucci Off The Grid Mini Bag ($690)
Gucci Off The Grid Belt Bag ($980)
Gucci Off The Grid Tote ($1,690)
So, I don’t like these bags but wanted to comment since I’m seeing people saying these should be cheaper:
– First off, luxury so yeah lol they all should, no matter what the material, there are PVC bags for thousands next to 20$ etsy ones. And I don’t disagree, as soon as it’s not leather, there’s an inherent cheap look to bags, including satin imo.
– I don’t think people realize that econyl/recycled material is expensive as hell! Unless it’s actual vintage, recycled does NOT mean cheaper. People either don’t realize how cheap non-recycled materials have become, or are vastly understating recycling costs. Recycling is a super expensive endeavor in general even for cardboard. There’s a lot of inevitable manual work for separation especially.
– Materials like tencel/econyl etc are trademarked and a completely different supply chain. The many, many years leather and regular plastic (or silk/cotton/hemp for clothes) have been used means at this point these materials have become much cheaper to obtain than day 1, barring exotics since there’s specific legal limitations there. If ostrich could be treated the way cattle are, they wouldn’t be so expensive. It’s not a case of getting a different cut of steak at the same butcher, they have to go to an entirely different industry that is only just really taking off, a lot of the new trademarked materials still have such low volume of production that they’re inevitably expensive, we hear lyocell (generic name btw) and econyl these days because finally they’ve taken off enough. Fashion workshops are just like any other: every year they make the things they produce cheaper to make via technology/haggling/process/supplier changes/etc. This early into “green fashion”, the supplies simply aren’t cheaper than the old school alternatives
– Last but not least of my novel-length comment:
None of this means that this collection, or any other environmentally made fashion couldn’t be cheaper, of course. And there’s zero doubt in my mind that when huge corporations make this shift, it’s not because the CEO has a heart of gold, it’s because they’re seeing the writing on the wall, like how oil companies started going into alternative energy in the last decade. I still think we should support it, both for small and big businesses, and “vote with our wallet” sort of thing. If you DO like the bags and WANT to spend on luxury and buy more, don’t worry that “oh no this probably cost them 100 dollars less to make than a calfskin one would’ve”. Even if it did, isn’t it better for the planet to encourage the sustainability?
I’m off topic so if the moderator deletes this – so be it! This reminds me of the Body Shop when it opened. All the Virtue Signaling on how their products are not tested on animals. OBVIOUSLY they aren’t tested n animals because they are using chemicals that (after being tested on animals years before) were found to be safe in standard formulations. Body Shop DIDN’T NEED to do animal testing!!!!!!
Remember this when you read “cruelty free” on packaging. Its not a moral high ground – its a legal loophole. When a label says “against animal testing” technically and legally that means nothing. I can say I’m against cheese sandwiches. Doesn’t mean anything.
I completely agree with you. That’s why more and more of my cosmetics are from Catrice, which spells out its animal testing policies very clearly on its website: https://www.catricecosmetics.com/pages/faq#animal_testing
They don’t test on animals, they don’t have others test on animals for them and they don’t sell in China because of the Chinese testing requirements. What’s more, their products are high quality, inexpensive and perform just as well as brands that cost much more and allow animal testing on their products — usually by third parties and/or for sales in China. I with PB would give them a shout out when they post about products they like. Catrice really walks the talk.
“wish”, not with PB!
Cheap.
OMG these look like Ebay fakes.
OK I see you are a mind reader as well. Eco-Friendly does not mean ugly or cheap looking gucci just needs to ask Stella McCartney how she does it with fashion flare.
Yes!!! More thought needed on the design process…prada does their nylon bags so well.
Yes, they need to watch Prada!!
LOL, who set up this shoot watched the first Zoolander movie wayyyy too many times. Gucci does Derelicte… What’s next? Piano key scarves?
The images from the shoot do make this collection way more confusing (even more confusing than the price points)
Like, is that a treehouse that was built in the middle of DTLA or Manhattan?
Gucci: We need higher profit margins. Anyone – how can we make 1000% on something ugly and cheap, and get people to buy it?
Also Gucci: Just call it eco-friendly with some virtue signaling! That should hypnotize them with their wallets!
I think this is an awesome direction. Gucci is one of the few luxury brands at least taking the steps to move in a better more sustainable direction. I am definitely going to support this.
Ok, I appreciate the effort using recyclable, disposable materials. On the flip side, the reality is that this is just another recycled bag and should be priced as such. But, by adding the “Gucci” label it supposedly elevates these bags to “designer status”. So, if it’s designer that one craves…buy them, but if it’s sustainable, recyclable and responsible purchasing that lures consumers buy from your local grocery store.
is that jane fonda?
I believe it is!
I’m a Gucci fan. However, these don’t look very well-made. These should be no more than $500. I’m only pricing them that high because they’re Gucci.
The most eco-friendly thing I can do in terms of purses would be not acquiring any more 🙂
STOP READING MY MND!!!!
LOLOLOLOLOLOL
LOLOLOLOLOLOL
Haha me too, I lately realized I have bag for every occasions and don’t need new bag for at least in the next 5 years.
hahaha
wow TIL how expensive recycling is which makes me feel much better about how heavily i have invested in reformation’s clothes :p thanks for sharing this!
Thank you! Not sure why my comment was marked as spam. Maybe too long?
Glad you appreciated it though, and happy to hear from another person who likes shopping sustainable brands even when it hurts the wallet! 🙂
Not sure why it was marked as spam, as it clearly wasn’t. Thanks for the insights!
Thank you!
So with this “Sustainably Minded Collection”, (confirming a sad reality about the others…), with 947 employees, almost US$10 billion yearly revenue and an entire Kering group army of resources, doing a bag with some panels in econyl, some metal-free tanned leather and some other overall packaging and hardware slight improvements is the best Gucci can do with sustainability in mind… wow Gucci! Very impressive… Now we know what your “focus on social and environmental sustainability.” and “sustainable value” claimed in your values statement really mean…