June 27, 2011: Celebrating its second year of partnership with Charlotte Casiraghi, Gucci has announced its second equestrian collection designed by Creative Director Frida Giannini for Ms. Casiraghi.
The wardrobe, this season, includes highly technical clothing and accessories for show jumping and training. The fil rouge of the new collection is the rosette icon from the Gucci archives, which Ms Giannini has reinterpreted across all elements. The motif originated as a broach during the 1980s when Gucci collaborated with the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) to sponsor the Gucci Trophy for the best international horse-riding professionals. Reinterpreting the motif, Ms Giannini has inscribed the symbol with Ms Casiraghi’s initials and applied it to the blazers, polos, buttons, saddle pads, rugs, fly veils, and blankets, as well as creating a one of a kind broach.
True to the tones of the new rosette, navy blue, red and white contrast in a bold color palette in a variety of technical materials. All textiles used ensure resistance, elasticity and performance for spring summer climates. Accents of chocolate-coloured leather enrich the collection with riding boots and detailing on outerwear and accessories.
The iconic web stripe, inspired by a girth strap needed to hold saddles in place and originally created in its green-red-green design in the 1950s, appears in a blue-red-blue variant in a range of proportions. The 1930 Diamante pattern characterizes the backpack and bag in a criss-crossing navy blue design. The signature horsebit serves as hardware on the buckle of a new belt.
Ms Casiraghi will be sporting her new Gucci riding wardrobe throughout the 2011 Global Champions Tour with upcoming stops in Estoril, Chantilly, Valkenswaard, Rio de Janeiro and Abu Dhabi.
