In 1898, Guccio Gucci, the son of an Italian merchant, arrived in London to become a porter at the Savoy. Europe was caught up in the excitement of fast-expanding international travel and the 17-year-old must have witnessed the wealthy proceeding through the hotel doors in extravagant outfits from far-flung destinations. What caught his eye, however, were the leather suitcases he helped carry up and down the Savoy’s steps.

When he returned to Florence, the young Guccio worked for the fine leather-goods manufacturer Valigeria Franzi until 1921, when he opened his first shop. With “G. Gucci” emblazoned above the door, he began by selling saddles and saddle bags to his equestrian clientele but soon started making his own leather luggage, adding raffia, wood and jute to create unusual bags featuring the highest levels of craftsmanship. Having become popular with celebrities of all sorts – from the Duke and Duchess of Windsor to Princess Grace of Monaco and Alain Delon – the Gucci name spread across the globe, the famous monogram stamped on his trunks, set apart by the horse-bit details in honour of Gucci’s first products.

Now, the Gucci Valigeria boutique at The Savoy is reinterpreting Guccio Gucci’s story as a new vision of the travel experience. The same spirit of adventure that first inspired the young Gucci fills the space alongside trunks, trolleys, suitcases and small leather goods, all made with the same meticulous craft as Guccio employed. Open until 15 January, 2023, perhaps this expression of new-old retail will inspire a new set of fledgling creatives to respond in their own fashion to a fast-changing world. ◉