Gucci Gets a Manga Makeover

Long recognised as an art form in Japan, the comic art of manga is garning increasing international recognition- although for many it retains geeky connotations. This January however, the graphic art has jumped from the basement to the catwalk with a creative Gucci collaboration.

rida Gianni, the brand’s creative director, has joined forces with top manga talent Hirohiko Araki to devise a Gucci Cruise 2013 collection inspired window installation. The collection can be seen in over 70 Gucci stores around the world, adding a splash of exotic pop culture to the most sophisticated of international retail districts. Giannini commented that she expects the collection to, “Stop people in their tracks in cities around the world as they immerse themselves in the fabulous fantasy world he has created.”

In contrast to the traditional image of comic artists as introverted fashion phobics, Araki bubbles over with enthusiasm for the new Gucci collection, revealing that; “Frida’s beautiful Cruise collection with its strong colours and graphic designs set my mind racing the moment she showed it to me. From there the characters and storyline came into being so naturally. It was very stimulating to work together on this project.”

The Gucci manga, titled, “Jolyne, Fly High with Gucci,” tells the story of Jolyne Cujoh, a pretty student who is handed down a mysterious trinket from her mother’s Gucci collection

Manga is surprisingly well read in Europe, and with Paris, the spiritual capital of haute couture, serving as the location of the continent’s only manga based degree program, it was only a matter of time until the creative forces of comic art and fashion design joined together in some way.

Juxtaposing the po-faced chic dominating many other collections, Araki’s influence infuses the display with an element of other worldly fun beauty and youthful fun. The Gucci manga, titled, “Jolyne, Fly High with Gucci,” tells the story of Jolyne Cujoh, a pretty student who is handed down a mysterious trinket from her mother’s Gucci collection. She is taken on a fantastical journey through time, journeying through a world infused with the colours of Gianni’s latest collection.