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Gucci’s 1953 Horsebit Loafer turns 70 years old

GUCCI / OCTOBER 2023

Paul Mescal

Actor and brand ambassador Paul Mescal and Global Brand Ambassador Xiao Zhan star in Gucci’s new advertising campaign to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the legendary 1953 Horsebit loafer.

Gucci’s “Horsebit” is one of the iconic emblems of the Italian fashion house Gucci and has become a distinctive design element of handbags, shoes and accessories. The origins of this symbol date back to the early years of the Gucci brand.

History

From an idea of Aldo Gucci, Guccio’s son, in the 1950s the Italian brand chose to make its own a symbol that was encased in the reins of horseback riding, a popular hobby among Gucci’s clientele in its early days.
In fact, Guccio Gucci began his career as a porter in a luxury hotel where he got a closer look at what high-ranking people wore. The hotel where he served was The Savoy in London, which has always been strongly close to the equestrian world, from which he drew much of his inspiration.


Xiao Zhan

First introduced in 1953, Gucci’s Horsebit Loafer has become an icon of the House and a wardrobe essential. Today, 70 years after its debut, Paul Mescal and Xiao Zhan are photographed wearing the original model, testifying to how the 1953 Horsebit Moccasini is linked to the Maison’s tradition and how it has evolved, thanks to ingenuity, continuing to inspire generation after generation.

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