Gucci, the iconic Italian luxury fashion brand, has opened its new downtown Detroit location on the first floor of the historic L.B. King and Co. Building at 1274 Library St., one block east of the Shinola Hotel.
Spanning more than 3,500 square feet, the Gucci store offers a wide collection of men’s and women’s ready-to-wear and accessories, jewelry, watches, and Gucci Décor.
In 2019, Gucci identified Detroit as a focus city for the Gucci North Americas Changemakers program. This program pushes for stronger representation in the fashion industry through relationships with Detroit-based nonprofits and supporting students from institutions such as Cass Tech High School.
Through the program, Gucci has also elevated and amplified the creativity found in the city, commissioning a film — Jenn Nkiru’s “Black to Techno” — that celebrated techno as a home-grown Detroit art form. It also has launched a capsule collection alongside Tommey Walker, the visionary behind Detroit Vs. Everybody.
The Detroit location blends the historic architecture of Library Street with the spirit of the luxury House of Gucci. The boutique features restored glass tiles and geometric metalwork on the façade that is carried throughout the interior.
Custom patterned monochrome floors mirror the geometric paneling from the façade, producing decorative three-dimensional effects, integrating with the shape of the cylindrical light fixtures.
As part of Gucci’s commitment to implement and enhance eco-friendly initiatives and energy-efficient technologies in the House’s stores worldwide, the new store is LEED-certified and features LED lighting to monitor and promote energy efficiency.
To honor Gucci’s new permanent home in the city, Gucci Changemakers commissioned poet and native Detroiter Jessica Care Moore to pen an original poem reflective of Gucci’s mission within the city of Detroit.
A stanza from the poem will be hand painted on the façade of the Siren Hotel at 1509 Broadway St., just north of John R Street, for the community to enjoy.
“The spirit of a fashionable city is felt
As soon as she walks in.
The spark lives inside the patterned faces
of her community.”
In September, to celebrate the opening and Detroit Month of Design, Gucci will continue its pioneering partnership with one of the most diverse and creative cities in the world by launching the second chapter of the collaboration with Detroit designer, Tommey Walker, and his homegrown label, Detroit Vs. Everybody.
The second iteration of the collaboration returns with custom Detroit Vs. Everybody patches featured on Gucci’s Off the Grid collection. The Off the Grid line was created to support the House’s vision for circular production that uses recycled, organic, bio-based, and sustainably sourced materials.
The collection will include a baseball hat, a backpack, and a belt bag, all to be sold exclusively at the Detroit store beginning in September.
Additionally, as part of Detroit Month of Design and in partnership with 2020 Changemakers grantee Design Core, Gucci will spotlight the talented and creative Changemakers scholars and Design Core designers with a multi-media exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) at 4454 Woodward Ave.
In addition to the Detroit location, Gucci has a store at the Somerset Collection in Troy, while it offers handbags at the Saks Fifth Avenue store at the Somerset Collection.
Founded in Florence, Italy, in 1921, Gucci is one of the world’s leading luxury brands, and today is led by President and CEO Marco Bizzarri and Creative Director Alessandro Michele. Gucci is part of the global luxury group Kering, which manages the development of a series of renowned Houses in fashion, leather goods, jewelry, and watches.
The stores hour of operations are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays.
To learn more, call the store at 313-552-6565, or visit www.gucci.com.
