Burberry, Tom Ford, Vetements, and now Gucci. Following the footsteps of recent advances towards a more gender inclusive fashion industry, it was reported that Gucci will be merging its menswear and womenswear collections into one show.
Gucci’s first combined show will be held at its new Milan HQ at Via Mecenate in 2017. It’s a decision that absolutely aligns with the aesthetic sensibility of Gucci’s Creative Director Alessandro Michele, who is notorious for blurring the lines between masculinity and femininity.
“It seems only natural to me to present my men’s and women’s collections together. It’s the way I see the world today,” Alessandro Michele says. “It will not necessarily be an easy path and will certainly present some challenges, but I believe it will give me the chance to move towards a different kind of approach to my storytelling.”
Now, blending conventionally masculine and feminine clothing isn’t exactly new to us, but it’s still a notable step forward in the world of fashion. Rather than being just another trend or simultaneously showing two different collections on the runway, such efforts should aim to gradually remove the gender binary in the fashion industry. By continuing to push gender boundaries as well as creative limits, androgyny would no longer a trend, but a political and social statement.
We’re definitely looking forward to more fused formats on the runways.
Jade Yeo
Photo credit: Imaxtree
