Posts tagged with "Gucci"

KADEN OLIVIER

‘We met Kaden in person and were instantly enamored.’ — 360®

Afro-Caribbean Kaden Olivier, with her older sister, was born in Baltimore and raised in Mount Airy, Maryland. She is presently studying at the University of Michigan. Apart from the classroom, she enjoys spending time with friends and working out in the gym. She firmly believes in astrology and the universe, as well as meditation and mental wellness.

Kaden has worked in a number of corporate domains, including real estate and investment banking. As a Human Capital Management intern, she conducted research to identify and plan program overviews with vendors to conduct enterprise-wide sexual assault training.

Lately, Kaden has been using her social equity to educate her peers on the importance of maintaining mental health.

Kaden’s parents both graduated with an undergraduate degree from Cornell University. Her mother is the COO of Pepco Holdings Incorporated, and her father is the CEO of The Cornerstone Professional Group LLC.

Photographer Vaughn Lowery shoots Calvin Klein underwear shot of Kaden Olivier for 360 MAGAZINE.

New Face, Kaden Olivier, attends NFIF at Room&Board in Chelsea during the NYFW CFDA Victor de Souza FW23 Show. Photo: Richard Koek via 360 MAGAZINE.

Listen to Kaden on 360 MAG podcast HERE.

Measurements

height: 5’8
hair: brown
eyes: brown
bust: 32’’
waist: 25’’
hips: 28”
shoes: 9.5

IMDb

LE BOOK

Bookings

kaden@the360mag.com

QR code for new face Kaden Olivier via 360 MAGAZINE.

Gucci’s Hortus Deliciarum

Gucci is adding an exclusive selection of new pieces to its Hortus Deliciarum High Jewelry collection to be presented on January 24, 2023, during Paris Haute Couture at the House’s Place Vendôme boutique.

Hortus Deliciarum — meaning ‘Garden of Delights’ in Latin — blends Gucci’s rich heritage in Italian craftsmanship and its ever-distinctive creativity in one-of-a-kind masterpieces distinguished by unique artistry, exceptional quality, and acute attention to detail. The current chapter, the third since the collection’s launch in 2019, draws inspiration from the world of travel and the memorable moments that every journey can bring.

The new additions to the Hortus Deliciarum collection include necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and multi-finger rings, divided into different themes. The designs explore tantalizing facets of the natural and animal kingdom, placing jewelry artistry center stage. These pieces evoke distant, exotic, and magical worlds, exciting the imagination with Gucci’s signature painterly approach to high jewelry craftsmanship.

A selection of pieces features fresh interpretations of Gucci’s distinctive Lion Head and Tiger Head motifs, symbolizing strength, courage, and passion. Flawless, fancy cut vivid gemstones, from aquamarines to yellow sapphires, add vibrant touches to these dynamic designs.

The collection includes several new creations showcasing a captivating combination of multicolored stones that are inspired by the concept of prismatic beauty and specifically designed to catch the light. These include a brilliant multi-finger ring – the result of 100 hours of meticulous production – crafted in yellow gold with a beautiful 38.8 carat green tourmaline centerpiece surrounded by diamonds. An equally stunning yellow gold cuff earring offers an elegant explosion of garnets, yellow beryl, rubellite, and diamonds. Here, Gucci blends the modernity of a cuff style with the exquisite beauty of warm-toned gems and dainty, flowing lines.

Other stunning pieces are distinguished by cascades of dancing diamonds, inspired by the beauty of shooting stars and the sparkling torrents of a waterfall. A highlight of this selection is a parure comprising a dazzling white gold necklace and matching drop earrings. Involving 300 hours of production, the necklace features diamond-embellished starbursts trimmed with lady-like diamond bows, while the earrings reveal diamond-encrusted bows and chandelier-like crystal droplets around two teardrop cut diamonds with a total of 16.7 carats.

A yellow gold bracelet, meanwhile, showcases a diamond-embellished chevron pattern and an oval-shaped 16 carat rubellite tourmaline, offering a striking geometric interplay of straight lines and smooth curves. This exceptional creation takes 200 hours to produce.

Intricately crafted and full of surprising details, an ornate diamond parure pays homage to the majestic beauty of natural landscapes. A diamond-encrusted geometric chain necklace is teamed with a stunning round-cut mandarin garnet pendant embellished with dainty emerald leaves. This can be teamed with a matching pair of jacket earrings, also in fresh and surprising shades of green and mandarin, offering a dazzling 40.5 carats of jewels for the necklace and 15.3 carats for the earrings.

To complete the collection, new diamond-embellished solitaire rings shine in an array of hues that resemble the changing colors of the sky. A sculpted, white gold design mesmerizes with a hexagonal 14.7 carat tanzanite centerpiece, while three other white gold rings each present a heart-shaped gemstone in a vivid color: a 9 carat blue tourmaline, a 12.6 carat peach tourmaline, or an 11.5 carat pink tourmaline.

The Hortus Deliciarum High Jewelry collection, launched in Paris in 2019, was followed by a second chapter presented on Italy’s Lake Maggiore in 2021 while the third and current collection was initially unveiled in Rome in 2022.

Gucci’s Hortus Deliciarum High Jewelry collection during the Paris Haute Couture show via 360 MAGAZINE.

Purchase online HERE.

Gucci Gift

This year’s Gucci Gift campaign draws inspiration from the world of travel in a nod to the House’s founding history and heritage. Under a starlit Winter sky, a cast of characters boards a fanciful locomotive with an atmosphere that evokes splendor but also a bit of intrigue. Each passenger is on a journey that goes beyond the imagination, tinged with a shared appreciation for that which is beautiful in the world.

Envisioned by Creative Director Alessandro Michele, the images captured by Carlijn Jacobs and the film shot by Jordan Hemingway cast a light on the shimmering and joyful spirit of the festive season. Trolleys, duffels, and cases of different shapes and sizes for carrying all things necessary (and not) take center stage, recounting the House’s imaginative vision of travel, while lace, ruffles, rich velvets, and sequins all add to the magic of the Holidays. The House’s signature bags are dressed for the occasion, presented in tone-on-tone palettes, miniature proportions, precious leathers, and with optical motifs. Passengers showcase a curated selection of fine jewelry and watches as they travel in suites adorned with pieces from the Gucci Décor collection. Vanity tables display elegant, collectible Gucci Beauty designs alongside a Lifestyle selection that includes lounge and leisure wear as well as items from the Gucci Pet collection modeled by a troupe of darling dogs along for the ride.

The Gucci Gift campaign celebrates the magic of the festivities and the joy of sharing these moments with loved ones in the spirit of this special time of year.

CREDITS

Creative Director: Alessandro Michele

Art Director: Christopher Simmonds

Photogrpher: Carljin Jacobs

Director: Jordan Hemingway

Make up: Daniel Sallstrom

Hair: Alex Brownsell

MUSIC CREDITS

Twenty-Four Hours From Tulsa

(B. Bacharach / H. David)

Performed by: Gene Pitney

Courtesy of Gusto Records, Inc

Courtesy of Warner Chappell Music Italiana S.r.l. / BMG Rights Management (Italy) srl

Product Details

Echoing the House’s origins, the Gucci Valigeria collection comes to the fore with heritage-infused luggage including the Gucci Savoy duffle and trolley in the classic beige and brown colorway with the green-red-green Web detail. Adding to the selection are briefcases and packing cubes, as well as travel bags in a grey-on-black palette and precious leather styles in black.

For women’s bags, the House presents the Gucci Horsebit 1955 bag, as well as the chain wallet, in bold tone-on-tone hues such as purple, orange, black, and midnight blue. There is also a selection of mini statement bags in pink GG Matelassé leather presenting a textural take on the House monogram. The GG Marmont is reimagined with a swirling optical print, either in black and white or pink and purple. GG monogram bags are also showcased, including an online-exclusive Gucci Ophidia tote enriched with a floral print, as well as mini bags with strawberry charms. Adding a refined elegance to the curation, signature bags in precious leather such as the Jackie 1961 and Gucci Bamboo 1947 are on display in the campaign, as well as a gold clutch from the House’s evening offer. For men, the bag selection of totes and backpacks is defined by the grey-on-grey GG monogram, with matching small leather goods and belts highlighted.

Elevated elegance defines the ready-to-wear pieces for men and women, highlighted throughout the sparkling and refined details. Lace, ruffles, rich velvets, and sequins accent the women’s selection, while sophisticated sartorial silhouettes in tartans define menswear.

The shoe selection includes both daywear and evening options. For women, chunky rubber-sole sneakers and Horsebit loafers get a pop of pastel hues while classic boots in a range of colors are defined by heritage details. As an online exclusive, there is a GG blue Jordaan loafer with a floral print. Continuing the theme of elevated elegance found in the Gucci Cosmogonie collection, there are GG-monogram-enriched platform heels, as well as sparkling mid-height mules and slingbacks in the bold tones of fuchsia, lime green, and orange. For men, there are the Gucci Run sneakers in black and white, as well as a white version with a blue and red Interlocking G detail. For the evening offer, the campaign showcases black patent leather loafers with a black Horsebit detail or a silver Blondie emblem.

The accessories highlight heritage codes. Reversible belts, with a tone-on-tone side or monogram one, put the GG front and center to complete everyday looks. There is also a GG grey belt for men, to go along with the full range of pieces highlighted in the campaign. Wallets, cardcases, and pouches are on display, while keychains also feature the Interlocking G. There are also winter hats and gloves, as well as silk scarves with prints reflecting signature handbag silhouettes.

The jewelry selection includes both fashion pieces that play with star motifs and the House script. The Gucci Flora fine jewelry collection, defined by intricate nature-inspired details crafted in 18k white gold and diamonds, echoes the fanciful atmosphere of the campaign. The G-Timeless watch with a dial decorated with 15 bees is also presented for men and women, portraying the House’s instinct to combine classic designs with whimsical details.

Pieces from the Gucci Décor collection are found throughout the enchanted train, including a blanket with an Interlocking G and star design. There is also a selection of porcelain tableware crafted by Richard Ginori with the black Herbarium motif, as well as cushions with romantic phrases and whimsical details. Gucci Lifestyle pieces are also showcased, with silk pajamas, printed fans, and portable game sets fitting seamlessly into the luxury travel setting. With both gifting and travel top of mind, the Gucci Pet Collection is also presented. The GG pet carrier, along with a GG monogram coat, an Interlocking G sweater, and a green-red-green collar portray how the House’s codes are reinterpreted with an element of surprise.

From the Gucci Eyewear collection are featured two mask shaped sunglasses in acetate, one with a tortoiseshell-like finish and blue GG-monogram reflective lenses, the other in an all-black version.

Products from Gucci Beauty also appear within the gifting curation in the campaign, including the Gucci Flora Gorgeous Gardenia and Gorgeous Jasmine Eau de Parfum, Mémoire d’une Odeur, Gucci Bloom Eau de Parfum, as well as the Eau de Toilette, and a selection of The Alchemist’s Garden fragrances and scented waters. A variety of lipsticks in diverse formulas including matte, satin and sheer in festive hues are captured in the train, along with Mascara l’Obscur, Éclat De Beauté Effet Lumière, and Baume Nourrissant Universel.

ZEITZ MOCAA × GUCCI – WHEN WE SEE US

ZEITZ MOCAA ANNOUNCES FULL ARTIST LINE-UP FOR HIGHLY ANTICIPATED EXHIBITION

WHEN WE SEE US: A CENTURY OF BLACK FIGURATION IN PAINTING

The survey exhibition features nearly 200 artworks from 154 artists

The exhibition, supported by Gucci, opens on 20 November 2022

This weekend, Zeitz MOCAA will be a flurry of activity as it not only presents its fundraising Gala, sponsored by Gucci, but also unveils a new survey exhibition that has been years in the making. Titled When We See Us: A Century of Black Figuration in Painting, the exhibition places a focus on painting, specifically works produced from the 1920s to the present.

“Over the last decade, figurative painting by Black artists has risen to a new prominence in contemporary art,” says Koyo Kouoh, Executive Director and Chief Curator at Zeitz MOCAA. “There is no better time for an exhibition of this nature, one that connects these practices and reveals the deeper historic contexts and networks of complex and underrepresented artistic genealogies that stem from African and Black modernities; an exhibition that demonstrates how multiple generations of such artists have revelled and critically engaged in projecting various notions of Blackness and Africanity.”

When We See Us: A Century of Black Figuration in Painting comprises an exhibition, publication and discursive programming that explores Black self-representation and celebrates global Black subjectivities and Black consciousness from pan-African and pan-diasporic perspectives. It boldly brings together artworks from the last 100 years, by Black artists working globally, into dialogue with leading Black thinkers, writers and poets who are active today.

The exhibition furthermore celebrates how artists from Africa and its diaspora have imagined, positioned, memorialised and asserted African and African-descent experiences. It contributes to critical discourse on African and Black liberation, intellectual and philosophical movements. The title of the exhibition is inspired by Ava DuVernay’s When They See Us, a 2019 miniseries. Flipping ‘they’ to ‘we’ allows for a dialectical shift that centres the conversation in a differential perspective of self-writing as theorised by Professor Achille Mbembe.

The exhibition, designed by Wolff Architects, features nearly 200 works of art by 154 artists from 28 countries, with the artworks loaned from 73 institutional and private lenders located in 26 countries. When We See Us celebrates the resilience, essence and political charge of Black joy. The exhibition is organised around six themes — The Everyday, Joy and Revelry, Repose, Sensuality, Spirituality, and Triumph and Emancipation. It is furthermore accompanied by a sonic translation, compiled by South African composer and sound artist Neo Muyanga.

Tandazani Dhlakama, the exhibition’s co-curator and Assistant Curator at Zeitz MOCAA, says: “This exhibition is a true reflection of the historic contexts of African and Black existence, with the oldest artist in the exhibition born in 1886 and the youngest in 1999. It amplifies a historical continuum of self-representation while highlighting important contributions towards a previously understated canon. Most importantly, it explores a broad range of artistic lineages, art schools and movements — and brings together a myriad of artists and their practice in dialogue for the first time (see full list of artists below).”

Published to coincide with the exhibition is a hardcover poetic catalogue by Thames and Hudson, in collaboration with Zeitz MOCAA, and edited by Koyo Kouoh. Richly illustrated with all the works selected for the exhibition, it includes a contextual essay by Dhlakama and four specially commissioned texts by acclaimed female writers Ken Bugul (Senegal), Maaza Mengiste (Ethiopia), Robin Coste Lewis (United States) and Bill Kouelany (Republic of Congo). In addition to the publication, on sale from 18 November at Zeitz MOCAA Shop and shop.zeitzmocaa.museum, the curatorial team have collaborated with the museum’s retail partner on a limited range of exhibition-related items, including T-shirts, tote bags and more.

Conceived in collaboration with the Institute for Humanities in Africa (HUMA) at the University of Cape Town (UCT), a parallel discursive programme provides theoretical framings of the project and is presented as a year-long, multi-vocal webinar series. The series brings together thought leaders from the continent and its thriving diaspora to address topics around global Black subjectivity and Black representation from the premise of artistic production and into the topical considerations relevant today.

Coordinated by Zeitz MOCAA Assistant Curator Thato Mogotsi, previous discussion topics included The Poetics of Black Figuration, Defining the ‘We’ & the ‘Us’, A Century of Black Figuration as Representation of Self and Black is Beautiful: Pan-Africanism & the Afropolitan Impulse in Contemporary Art, amongst others. Previous participants have included Prof Huey Copeland, Kimberly Drew, Keyna Eleison, Thelma Golden, Dr Felwine Sarr and Athi Mongozeleli Joja. The webinars are archived on the museum’s YouTube channel, with the next one taking place on Tuesday, 29 November.

The opening of the exhibition is preceded by the 2022 Zeitz MOCAA Gala Dinner + Party, supported by Gucci, acting as a catalyst and inspiration for the Gala’s theme of Art & Opulence. The Gala is Zeitz MOCAA’s largest development event of the year and its proceeds yield approximately 30% of the museum’s annual exhibitions and education budget. The event is essential to the institution’s mission of promoting art education and community engagement, and is further supported by the V&A Waterfront, Radisson Hotel Group, the Mail & Guardian, YourLuxury Africa, Terre Paisable, Pernod Ricard and Hidden Valley Wines, with BMW South Africa as the official vehicle partner.

The exhibition and accompanying publication have been made possible through the generous support of our presenting sponsor, Gucci.

When We See Us: A Century of Black Figuration in Painting will open to the public on Sunday, 20 November 2022. The Zeitz MOCAA Gala Dinner + Party, supported by Gucci and themed Art + Opulence, takes place on Saturday, 19 November 2022. For more information on the Gala and to purchase tickets, visit zeitzmocaa.museum or click here.

Zeitz MOCAA’s curatorial and exhibition programming is proudly supported by Gucci. All proceeds from the annual fundraising event go towards supporting curatorial research and education programming at Zeitz MOCAA.

Participating artists:

Nina Chanel Abney

Olusegun Adejumo

Tunji Adeniyi-Jones

Njideka Akunyili Crosby

Maxwell Alexandre

Tiffany Alfonseca

Benny Andrews

Anjel (BorisAnje)

Cornelius Annor

Gideon Appah

Michael Armitage

Johnny Arts

Malang Badji

Firelei Báez

Romare Bearden

Tizta Berhanu

Willie Bester

Gerard Bhengu

Wilson Bigaud

John Thomas Biggers

Amoako Boafo

Kwesi Botchway

Marcus Brutus

Margaret Taylor Burroughs

Dominic Chambers

Chéri Chérin

Kudzanai Chiurai

Peter Clarke

Eldzier Cortor

Somaya Critchlow

Beauford Delaney

Elladj Lincy Deloumeaux

Aboubacar Diané

Aaron Douglas

Gervais Emmanuel Ducasse

Edouard Duval-Carrié

Ibrahim El-Salahi

Ben Enwonwu

Esiri Erheriene-Essi

Patrick Eugène

Scherezade García

Ablade Glover

Gherdai Hassell

Barkley L. Hendricks

Lubaina Himid

Albert Huie

Clementine Hunter

Kudzanai-Violet Hwami

Gavin Jantjes

William H. Johnson

Charles Kamangwana

Kangudia

Ibrahima Kébé

Amon Kotei

Joy Labinjo

Wifredo Lam

YoYo Lander

Akinola Lasekan

Jacob Lawrence

Petson Lombe

Sahara Longe

Zemba Luzamba

Danielle McKinney

Mustafa Maluka

Marvelous Mangena

Armando Mariño

Arjan Martins

No Martins

Wangari Mathenge

Neo Matloga

Raphael Adjetey Adjei Mayne

George Mbugua

Kivuthi Mbuno

Zachariah Mbutha

Luis Meque

Roméo Mivekannin

Sungi Mlengeya

Sphephelo Mnguni

Moké

Meleko Mokgosi

Archibald J. Motley Jr.

Richard Mudariki

Geoffrey Mukasa

Cinthia Sifa Mulanga

Theresa Mungure

Lavar Munroe

Ian Mwesiga

Cassi Namoda

Eric Ndlovu

Chemu Ng’ok

Malangatana Valente Ngwenya

Nicholous Njau

Thenjiwe Niki Nkosi

Eria Nsubuga ‘Sane’

Nestor Vuza Ntoko

Boris Nzebo

Antonio Obá

Antoine Obin

Philomé Obin

Télémaque Obin

Abe Odedina

Toyin Ojih Odutola

Fred Oduya

Chris Ofili

Augustin Okoye

Kambui Olujimi

Eniwaye Oluwaseyi

Bruce Onobrakpeya

Richard Onyango

Marc Padeu

Zéh Palito

Emma Pap’

Karl Parboosingh

George Pemba

Thebe Phetogo

Naudline Pierre

Prosper Pierre-Louis

Horace Pippin

María Magdalena Campos Pons

Otis Kwame Kye Quaicoe

Robert Saidi

Chéri Samba

Kingsley Sambo

Cinga Samson

Mmapula Mmakgabo Helen Sebidi

Gerard Sekoto

Tschabalala Self

Amy Sherald

Devan Shimoyama

Monsengo Shula

Alexander Shyngle

Sthembiso Sibisi

Ancent Soi

Olivier Souffrant

Moustapha Souley

Pamela Phatsimo Sunstrum

Nirit Takele

Matundu Tanda

Henry Taylor

Alfred Thoba

Mickalene Thomas

Bob Thompson

Edward Saidi Tingatinga

Katlego Tlabela

Cyprien Tokoudagba

Mose Tolliver

Zandile Tshabalala

Didier Viodé

Sane Wadu

Charles White

Kehinde Wiley

Richard Witikani

Lynette Yiadom-Boakye

Daniela Yohannes

Issued by Chimera Creative on behalf of Zeitz MOCAA.

Please find further media materials for When We See Us here and here.

About Zeitz MOCAA

Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) is a public not-for-profit institution that collects, preserves, researches and exhibits contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora; conceives and hosts international exhibitions; develops supporting educational, discursive and enrichment programmes; encourages intercultural understanding; and strives towards access for all. The museum’s galleries feature rotating temporary exhibitions with a dedicated space for the permanent collection. The institution also includes the Centre for Art Education, the Centre for the Moving Image and The Atelier, a museum residency programme for artists living and working in Cape Town.

Zeitz MOCAA is situated at the Silo District, South Arm Road, V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, South Africa, and is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm. zeitzmocaa.museum

About Gucci

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.

Discover more about Gucci at gucci.com.

Exquisite GUCCI

As first presented in the hall of magic mirrors during Milan fashion week, the Exquisite Gucci collection was designed by the House’s Creative Director, Alessandro Michele for Fall-Winter 2022. The emphasis on tailoring was the show’s organizing theme, but the headline was Michele’s collaboration with adidas. Merging sartorial tradition and sportswear codes, he added the brand’s trademark stripes and emblem to suits and an array of ready-to-wear.

A Note From Gucci’s Creative Director Alessandro Michele

I’ve always been charmed by cinema. For its power to tell stories that can probe human adventure and its drift. For its visionary power to dig up in the real, making it vertiginously imaginative and questionable. Such a careful look on the human, after all, is so close to me. I could never imagine clothes as severed from the story and life of the person wearing them. If you ask me, a garment is not, and never will be, just a piece of fabric. It’s rather the means through which we are able to unfold who we really decide to be, it’s how we shape our desires and the ultimate sense of our staying. That’s why I’ve always imagined my collections as films able to convey a cinematography of the present: a score of stories, eclectic and dissonant, that can sacralize the human and its metamorphic ability.

The “Exquisite” campaign is my tribute to cinema and to one of its brightest maestros, Stanley Kubrick. A philosophic filmmaker who, better than others, emanated the magic of that inextricable knot through which cinema exudes life and magnifies it. I’ve always admired Kubrick’s remarkable capacity in tackling very different subjects. His experimental drive goes beyond any possible categorization. Every film, in fact, digests the manifold souls where dystopia meets parody, drama becomes human comedy, horror looks like a psycho-philosophic treatise, the feeling of truth evolves into the uncanny. Kubrick was, in essence, a real sculptor of genres: the “cross-genre” director, ahead of his time. His ability to build stories that exceed significance, crossing borders and setting labels on fire, has always been deeply inspiring to me.

As an act of love, I decided to reinhabit Kubrick’s films, pushing to the core this incendiary approach. I took the liberty of disassembling, blending, grafting and reassembling them. Sticking to my creative praxis, I seized those movies, romanticizing them, populating them with my clothes. Trying to create short circuits where the adidas gown, that had already lost its status of sportswear to become a Victorian costume, appears as a new character in the script of Barry Lyndon. The dress designed by Laura Whitcomb, wearing which Madonna grabbed the New York spotlight in the nineties, fits in the gothic scenes of The Shining. The mysterious darkness of the enigmatic ritual of Eyes Wide Shut embraces a venus in fur, embellished with sensual bourgeois pearls. And more, the 90s shoes with a fetish flavor explode through the frames of A Clockwork Orange. Finally, the dreamiest evening dress dangled in soft tulle ruches bursts into the aseptic and dystopian space of the Discovery One in 2001: A Space Odyssey. This situationist game mixes historical plans, references, experiences. The past explodes into the present. Everything can become anything, or something else. As in that famous scene of Kubrick’s masterpiece, where the bone turns into a spaceship. As in life.

With “Exquisite” I carry on my attempt to mingle high and low, this time coherently and synergistically with the grammar of the great director. In the selected sequences it feels like Nietzsche, Kant and Freud speak casually to the people in the street. The biggest questions about the meaning of life become pop images. Complex transfigurations in terms of significance, get immediate access in terms of experience. Everything comes to be iconic, symbolically sophisticated, though able to reflect on a culture that we can definitely identify as pop. I chose Kubrick also for this, after all. What he created is part of our collective imagination. Since he was a diviner of vision, his works are as recognizable as the Sistine Chapel, the Virgin of the Rocks or The Simpsons. Manipulating his images, inside a brand new semantic framework, is like hacking La Gioconda. Plus the inspiration and the empathy only possible through the fictional cinematographic machine.

This involvement generates a change of state that is very significant for my job: clothes get closer to bare life again. They turn into highly imaginative functional prostheses, and they do so to tell a story. A story that shatters, enchants, tortures, ignites. Because it’s the story of the human that dwells in each and every one of us. As Stanley Kubrick knew too well. And also Milena Canonero, a very dear friend of mine, who accepted my invitation to go back over some of the scenes that hailed her as an undisputed star in the history of costume design. Her presence in this project is moving for me, a very precious gift.

– Alessandro Michele

Stanley Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey,” “A Clockwork Orange,” “Barry Lyndon,” “Eyes Wide Shut,” and “The Shining” are available to own today on Blu-ray and Digital.

CREDITS:

Creative Director: Alessandro Michele

Art Director: Christopher Simmonds

Photographers & Directors: Mert & Marcus

Make up: Thomas De Kluyver

Hair: Paul Hanlon

KADO – Never Lost A Gun Fight (Allegedly)

Boston-Based Lyricist Hundred Round Kado Releases Never Lost A Gun Fight (Allegedly) a brick-laced bar-for-bar symphony of cohesive hood poetry

There is a throwback quality to Boston-based lyricist Hundred Round Kado whose name means “gift” in his native language, Haitian Creole. He embodies a revolutionary and emotionally raw spirit reminiscent of the Golden Age of hiphop; aggressiveness mixed with deep introspection. However the emerging underground MC, the byproduct of systemic racism, violence and poverty, was heavily influenced by trap music (Gucci, Jeezy, T.I., Boosie, ZRo, Playa Fly). This versatility is a testament to his superpower – being able to articulate his experiences into words without creative compromise.

At 32 years-old, Hundred Round Kado has spent one-third of his existence behind bars yet his passion for rap has never wavered; if anything, it has intensified. The evidence can be found on his latest body of work, Never Lost A Gun Fight (Allegedly). Artfully executed, Hundred Round Kado 11th release is a tightly-wrapped 14-song tracklist with varied moods and masterfully narrated by Charlie Masheen who shines seamlessly. The title single is cathartic ghetto gospel that opens with Masheen’s thought-provoking spoken word laying the energetic groundwork for Hundred Round Kado to spit his soul baring truths over a sparse soundscape. On records like “Gratitude,” “Dead Person” and “9 And A Nina,” there’s a soulful rap&b vibe as the MC flawlessly flows atop melodic basslines, while cuts like “Boolin In The Kut” and “Bring Your Skale” find Hundred Round Kado showcasing his ability for cinematic storytelling. Each track is thorough enough to stand on its own yet as a whole, Never Lost A Gun Fight (Allegedly) is a brick-laced bar-for-bar symphony of cohesive hood poetry. It took over a decade of growth; highs and lows, lock ups and freedom, death and life for Hundred Round Kado to produce the autobiographical content found on the project. From subject matter ranging from legal woes and street politics to relationship struggles and spiritual breakthroughs, Hundred Round Kado’s young OG reputation was earned. “I don’t rap, I make my life rhyme,” says Kado about why he makes music.

Over the last few months, Hundred Round Kado has managed to drop back-to-back music videos for tracks from Never Lost A Gunfight (Allegedly), all while being confined to house arrest. The ability to hone in on the art and focus is seen in the outcome of the visuals; they don’t follow conventional scripts. In the video for the single “Dededede,” the dynamic rapper shows himself as somewhat of a bibliophile as the camera pans across his bedroom bookshelf showcasing the works of literary icons like Toni Morrison, Octavia Butler and Zora Neale Hurston. This collection of female authors might seem somewhat of an anomaly for a gang member currently out on bail while awaiting trail for a gun charge (allegedly), but Hundred Round Kado is a rare breed.

On the strength of personal and professional respect, multi-Grammy winning artist Malik Yusef introduced Hundred Round Kado to Roc Nation artist Vic Mensa when he was on the 4:44 Tour with Jay Z in 2017. The connection proved to be mutually invaluable. “Hundred Round Kado is one of the most talented lyricists I know,” says Mensa. “The elite level of his wordplay is probably only trumped by the gravity of his story, which is literally breathtaking; born in federal prison, it’s a miracle he’s still alive and has been able to transmute his pain into passion. Kado really held me down in some tough times when I had a lot of people out for me, but it wasn’t until 2021 when he was locked up facing life that our relationship became what it is today. In those 8-9 months, I sent him nearly 40 books ranging from James Baldwin to Eckhart Tolle and saw this miraculous transformation take place in him as he really began to harness his innate power to build, as opposed to destroy. A lot of these verses he spit for me when he was doing his time and it always gave me inspiration to go harder.”

Known as the Godfather of New England, Hundred Round Kado has a head for entrepreneurship and a heart for service. The strategic businessman has a portfolio of investments alongside his astute partner Alabama Jones that encompass a barbershop, hair salon, clothing store, studio and art gallery. Living up to the meaning of his name, Kado is truly a gift. A marginalized outsider who became an insider against all odds, including a 20 year history within the criminal justice system, the intelligent artist doesn’t know what his future holds. However, mentally, emotionally, spiritually and creatively-speaking, he’s free.

Follow on Instagram @hundredroundkado

GUCCI HA HA HA

Friendship, complicity, a unification of distinct creativities that meet along a shared border, exchanges, and contaminations of collective ideas. And the construction of the absolute pragmatism of bridges that form to connect different perspectives.

Gucci HA HA HA is a collection that represents the landing place of an inventive two-person journey, the synthesis of a friendship between Gucci’s Creative Director, Alessandro Michele, and the British singer-songwriter and actor, Harry Styles.

Gucci HA HA HA is not only a printed motif on a label, but the beginning of a jargon that has yet to be categorized and that defines the intersection of creative expression and shared perceptions of two different consciences: this is why it is a collection born from a creative relationship that self-generates from amusement and ends with the tangibility of a product. HA HA HA is the serial crasis of the initials of ‘Harry’ and ‘Alessandro,’ but it is also the onomatopoeic sound of the written essence of an emoji, the ‘laughing face.’ In fact, it is with this neological expression, ‘hahaha,’ that Michele and Styles have ended their messages to each other for years; two friends who find themselves sharing trips, experiences, and even those suspensions in time that are shared spaces in silence. Their relationship is one of complicity that allows for continuous exchanges because it recovers the true moral meaning of friendship: a sincere revelation and dedication of oneself towards the other, without duplicity and displays of power.

Alessandro Michele and Harry Styles met each other many years ago, right at the beginning of their careers as soloists: Michele following his debut as Gucci’s Creative Director and Styles just as he released his first album. The encounter immediately generated a relationship of exchange, of continuous creative contamination, and the drive to explore.

“Harry has an incredible sense of fashion. Observing his ability to combine items of clothing in a way that is out of the ordinary compared to the required standards of taste and common sense and the homogenization of appearance, I came to understand that the styling of a look is a generator of differences and of powers, as are his reactions to the designs I have created for him, which he has always made his own; these reactions restore me with a rush of freedom every time. The idea of working together came to me one day while we were talking on the phone: I proposed creating a “dream wardrobe” with him, starting from those small oddities that come together in childlike visions. We ended up with a mix of aesthetics from 1970s pop and bohemian to the revision of the image of the gentleman in an overturned memory of men’s tailoring,” says Alessandro Michele of an endeavor that connects two “I’s” to obtain an absolute “us” in which each resulting element is a plural creation that highlights the contamination of ideas and produces a singular organism.

Gucci HA HA HA is a playful collection designed to act as a herald of new visions of beauty, crafted with liberating codes that eliminate the ritual complexities of fashion collections and produce the sustainable spontaneity of ease, just as nature is easy even when it expresses itself with the vision of complexity. Jackets, coats, pants, shirts, and accessories that manifest a novel emotive passage able to construct a study on a surprising take on masculine elegance with clothes that declare their love both to the materials with which they are made and to the historical significance of their forms, volumes, and of the images they produce.

A dialog, a game, the complicit expression of a friendship that was formed from a planning that collects encounters, stories, similarities, and differences, to produce liberating codes.

Gucci HA HA HA therefore is an imaginative connection between Alessandro Michele and Harry Styles and gathers within a collection many elements that characterize the creative paths and peculiarities of the two artists, bringing them together in the synthesis of Gucci. Elements of English tailoring transformed in romantic accents from a new meaning of masculinity through the eccentric use of Prince of Wales check to create double-breasted coats, the essential preeminence of artisanal processes seen in the construction of jackets or in the details of covered and mother-of-pearl buttons of shirts. An artistic imagination that comes from creative instances that apply themselves to diverse expressions contaminate each other and become clothes that highlight formal developments of the historical significance of menswear: this is why alongside sartorial suits, treated denim jackets, and velvet suits in irregular hues, are unexpected printed pajamas and bowling shirts, lined coats with hoods and frog fasteners, and pleated kilts with leather regulating straps. All to underline the continuous acknowledgements of two creativities in each design that comprises the Gucci HA HA HA collection.

Gucci

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.

Discover more about Gucci at www.gucci.com.

GUCCI ATTACHE

Gucci Attache, the house’s latest bag style. The Attache Bag is characterized by an adaptable “G” clasp at the bottom of the strap which transforms the silhouette into a stunning half moon shape. This style draws upon a playful 1970s aesthetic and reaffirms the house’s ongoing efforts in gender inclusivity, offering eight distinct unisex styles.

A piece of contemporary design created from the awareness of a modern attitude and of the intentional revival of a historical object from the archive: Gucci Attache is a bag that reinterprets tradition and the system of House codes while transporting a silhouette, which draws from an intuition and an attitude of the 1970s, into the present through a narrative and gesturality outside the confines of gender, feminine or masculine.

Attache, like the French word for “hook,” like the geometry with which, through the power of symbols, can be defined as onomatopoeic because it closes onto itself like a hook. Or like the metallic hook that attaches the two corners. Attache, therefore, is the bag that progresses from a half-moon design encompassed by the Web, distinguished by a metal G that opens and closes its silhouette.

Versatile as a symbol, in shape, and in volume, the Gucci Attache is presented as the essence of a very current attitude and gesturality. Both in its medium and small sizes and in the diverse ways it can be worn, either on the shoulder or across the body, the line presents that appeal that only objects with dual functions can have.

“I was fascinated by the bag after having laid upon it a casual and fleeting glance while I was in the archive… Immediately, a desire took shape to reinterpret it and include it in the Love Parade collection for the fashion show in Los Angeles because its silhouette, typical of the Seventies, projects a very modern attitude that convinced me to draw out an eclectic symbol that could express the idea of a dual function. It is its G-shaped clasp detail, with its mechanical origin, that makes it the joining link between a bourgeois spirit, typical of an object of this kind, and the functionality of the world of utility,” says Alessandro Michele, Creative Director of Gucci.

With its interchangeable straps, in leather or the Web, that allow it to become both a shoulder bag and a handbag, the Gucci Attache is an item of design that is both transportable and ergonomic, living in contact with the body, a perfect silhouette to add to a hypothetical collection of objects of desire. In other words, of those wonderful, useful, inseparable objects that in the culture of contemporary living, have become bags.

The Gucci Attache is featured in a campaign that Art Director and photographer Max Siedentopf shot against a metropolitan backdrop, underlining the same symbols that form the meaning of this bag: references and perspectives that together, know how to create that glam-utility that is the expression of a culture of appearance and practicality. Two elements that create a desire for beauty.

Watch #GucciAttache HERE.

Ph & director: Max Siedentopf

Creative Director: Alessandro Michele

Art Director: Max Siedentopf

Make up: Camilla Romagnoli

Hair: Andrea Martinelli

ZEITZ MOCAA’S NEW SCULPTURE

Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) announces a riveting site-specific commission of monumental scale by Malagasy artist Joël Andrianomearisoa titled The Five Continents of All Our Desires. The installation is supported by Fonds Yavarhoussen, Madagascar, and will be on view from 2 August 2022 to 25 June 2023 in the museum’s atrium.

Andrianomearisoa’s practice encompasses working in multidisciplinary ways — with materiality and scale as important considerations. Imbued with complex emotional experiences, his delicate, often ambiguous works are an ongoing series of ever-evolving exercises that consider the aesthetic and architecture of feelings that all perceive yet cannot put a name to.

Zeitz MOCAA Executive Director and Chief Curator Koyo Kouoh says: “It is a revelation and honour to host an artwork of this scale and ambition in our museum. The generosity and intentionality with which Joël approached this commission is a testament to the extraordinary, multiplistic views of our world for which this institution is intended. To hold, to speak, to listen and to love — sentiments and values that echo our mission are brought centre stage with this incredible work.”

The Five Continents of All Our Desires is a celebration of relations and connections. For Andrianomearisoa, the work speaks to both migration and language — and the ongoing search for zones of engagement and desire. He constructs a view of the world that is fragile, ambiguous, open-ended and about new possibilities for human contact.

The awe-inspiring work consists of six large-scale sculptures that form a suspended archipelago in a poetic reference to land masses and geographies of the imagination, and are constructed from Andrianomearisoa’s signature material, black silk paper. Installed in the figurative and literal ‘heart’ of the museum building, the work is the first site-specific commission to grace Zeitz MOCAA’s atrium in two years.

“The Five Continents of All Our Desires is conceived in dialogue with the concrete interior of the museum, and what remains of the original silos of the building,” adds Storm Janse van Rensburg, Zeitz MOCAA Senior Curator and Head of Curatorial Affairs. “It is both in play and in visual tension with its surroundings. Whilst appearing as large black masses, the thin and soft materiality of the work allows for subtle atmospheric responses to become visible —such as paper rustling due to airflows caused by human movement.”

The Five Continents of All Our Desires is accompanied by a sound installation, and a display of 40 drawings — a first, significant showing of the artist’s graphic works in an exhibition. Visitors can also experience a set of specially designed furniture by the artist. Andrianomearisoa has further collaborated with the Zeitz MOCAA curatorial team and retail partners of the museum to develop an exclusive range of objects that will be on sale. All proceeds from sales will support the museum’s work.

The Five Continents of All Our Desires is on view in the Zeitz MOCAA atrium from Thursday, 2 August 2022. Zeitz MOCAA’s curatorial and exhibition programming is proudly supported by GUCCI.

Gucci Resort

Forever exploring its long-held legacy in travel, a constant source of inspiration within every collection, the House presents an ode to the seasonal ritual of setting off to seaside locales. The Gucci Resort Collection features a selection of items unique to the world’s top travel destinations, transforming the vacation wardrobe into a colorful travelogue. Bags, sunglasses, hats, and beach blankets make up the exclusive local product offers, while the ready-to-wear and shoes will be available across all resort locations as well as on Gucci.com.

At the center of the special selection is the GG monogram, reimagined with a zig-zag-patterned background and with vibrant color combinations unique to the specific warm-weather havens where they are exclusively sold. The cities featured within the collection include Bondi, Bodrum, Cancun, Cannes, Capri, Dubai, Forte dei Marmi, the Hamptons, Hawaii, Ibiza, Jeju, Marbella, Miami, Monte Carlo, Mykonos, Okinawa, Palm Desert, Porto Cervo, Phuket, and Rio de Janeiro. Inscribed with the name of the city that inspired the palette, each item becomes a travel memento, denoting the expansive narrative of an individual’s journey.

To present the product selection in a surreal and playful way, photographer and director Max Siedentopf has captured a campaign where the Gucci Resort pieces take on monumental status in mini dioramas of the various resort destinations. Tote bags and sunglasses become part of the landscape, while beach-goers bring larger-than-life energy to the frozen-in-time scenes—a reminder that unexpected stories are still to be discovered even in the most familiar destinations.

The collection will be distributed through designated stores and on Gucci.com. Additionally, at the resort destinations, special Pop-Ups inspired by beachside cabanas will also showcase an exclusive product offering.

#GucciResort

Creative Director: Alessandro Michele

Art Director and Photographer: Max Siedentopf

Make up: Camilla Romagnoli

Hair: Andrea Martinelli

Product Details

The Gucci Resort Collection features a wide range of products, creating a colorful getaway wardrobe.

The women’s ready-to-wear selection presents a variety of day dresses including cotton sangallo styles and printed muslin gowns enriched with colorful lace details. Perfect to pack, matching sets of GG tweed or GG chevron add an elegant yet relaxed feel. Swimsuits in a variety of styles come in bright hues, including a tie-dye print one-piece defined by a palm tree and the Gucci logo. As a part of the exclusive destination offer, T-shirts, sweatshirts, and shorts feature the names of select cities.

The men’s ready-to-wear is defined by lightweight knitwear and linen jackets, as well as patterned button-downs and tie-dyed T-shirts and sweatshirts—all in seasonal hues. There is also a full selection of denim shirts, shorts, and pants featuring playfully embroidered patches.

The handbag selection sees a reimagination of the GG monogram, with a zigzag pattern reinforcing its bold energy. Emblazoned across lined raffia-effect totes, beauty cases, and mini bags, each palette variation is unique to the resort destination and features a leather label identifying which city inspired the design. Select places will also present unlined raffia tote bags.

Offered worldwide, the Resort shoe selection features styles envisioned for holidays spent by the sea. Whether donning a flat or platform sole, espadrilles show off the colorful GG monogram woven from a raffia-effect material. The product selection also includes a number of women’s raffia-effect sandals with a flower-like design. The men’s collection features GG monogrammed espadrilles and Gucci Tennis 1977 sneakers in colorful prints.

Completing the array of items envisioned for the seaside, beach blankets, as well as raffia-effect bucket and baseball hats also showcase the regionally exclusive combinations of hues of the Resort GG monogram design. A selection of crochet hats is available worldwide.

A selection of destinations including Cannes, Capri, Forte dei Marmi, the Hamptons, Ibiza, Marbella, Mykonos, Porto Cervo, and Rio de Janeiro will also introduce new color variations of signature Gucci Eyewear styles in acetate or combi constructions, available in the international fitting. Characterized by a Summery and colorful spirit, each design features the name of the city it was inspired by.

About Gucci

Founded in Florence, Italy, in 1921, Gucci is one of the world’s leading luxury brands, led by President and CEO Marco Bizzarri and Creative Director Alessandro Michele. Following the House’s centenary, Gucci forges ahead into the next hundred years, continuing to redefine luxury while celebrating the creativity, Italian craftsmanship, and innovation at the core of its values. 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. Discover more about Gucci at www.gucci.com.