09/25/2025
Spring 2026.
Celebrating Florence, History and The Future.
Awaiting the arrival of Demna, the collection was designed by the brand’s team and unveiled at the Gucci Archive in the 15th century Palazzo Settimanni.
The city of Florence was originally named Florentia, which in Latin means blossoming. Therefore it was only fitting that Gucci would return to the city where it was founded in 1921 to show its cruise 2026 collection — also the home of the Renaissance — as it works to once again flourish after seasons of declining sales.
Awaiting the arrival of new creative director Demna, following the exit of Sabato De Sarno in February, the collection was designed by the brand’s team and unveiled at the Gucci Archive in the 15th century Palazzo Settimanni.
Gucci is one of myriad brands in a holding pattern and relying on their studio teams, many of whom have done an admirable job. But in the end what is a brand to do in the interregnum since it still needs to create collections to have something to sell even though most of these collections lack a fashion zing?
“Gucci is Florence and Florence is Gucci,” said chief executive officer Stefano Cantino on the sidelines of the show. “The collection has a cinematographic soul that is partly reflected by the choice of the music,” referring to the soundtrack of the Claude Lelouch 1966 film “A Man and a Woman.”
The design team was clearly influenced by the archive, which in the building comprises around 46,000 Gucci pieces and designs by all the previous creative directors over the years. Leggings sprinkled with crystals from De Sarno? Check. The sleek, midi silk dresses and pencil skirts à la Frida Giannini? Check. The furry coats and sexy sparkling gowns à la Tom Ford? Check. Alessandro Michele’s pussy-bow blouses and ruched silk dresses? Check. However, there was also a whiff of Demna, with his oversized jackets with strong structured shoulders worn over ruched silk blouses and fluid pants.
