Not that we needed another reason to hand over all our money to Gucci, but after glimpsing their new lifestyle collection we really aren't left with a choice. The fashion House has just announced its' first foray into the realm of pens, notebooks and all the other back-to-school wotsits. To bring the collection to life, Alessandro Michele has opened a pop-up store in Milan just in time to usher in a new school term and Milan Design Week.
For those planted in Milan, stepping into Gucci's Cartoleria (Italian for stationery shop) will send a shock of wonder to the system. Inside the stores' wood-panelled walls lurks a whimsy-fuelled spectacle where flying notebooks, so-called haunted items, endless bookcases and chess sets that play themselves kindle a kind-of Diagon Alley fantasy for onlookers.
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Alessandro Michele prefaced the collection by saying, "When I was a child, going to the stationery store and finding pencils, pens, and notebooks...meant bringing a dream into my daily routine. They were fine, well-made objects that spoke of craftsmanship and that, though part of my everyday life, were able to give off a magical, mysterious and wonderful aura."
Curious about what's in the collection? True to form Michele has married both magic with well-crafted essentials. Notebooks are swathed in canvas; with monogram, flora-and-fauna and oddly Donald and Daisy Duck (?) prints available. Hand-made boxes of pens, graphite pencils, leather pencil cases and glass paperweights round out the collection. While hidden amongst the stationery are unexpected surprises that lean more towards the lifestyle category. Items like poker sets, backgammon boards, travelling sets with masks, pillows and slippers, skateboards and silk pyjamas are all available to purchase at the Cartoleria and online.
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“I could have included them in the collections long ago, but they were not strictly related to clothing and accessories. That's why I wanted to build a whimsical space where they could be laid out, to restore to everyday life that sense of wonder that makes them so dear to me," continued Michele.
For those of us who feel giddy when they pass the stationery aisle, this collection is screaming your name. Although, seeing as it's also Virgo season, this range would make a thoughtful gift for the industrious and organised Virgo's in your life.
Gucci's Cartoleria will remain open in Milan until September 17. For the rest of us, we can shop the collection from our homes on September 10, where it will be made available on Gucci's website.
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