Frida Giannini designs Flag Collection coinciding with expansion of support for UNICEF education programs
NEW YORK (August 6, 2012) — Gucci is pleased to introduce the Flag Collection to benefit UNICEF, an exclusive line of t-shirts and accessories, designed by Creative Director Frida Giannini, to celebrate the launch of UNICEF’s “Schools for Asia” initiative.
In its seventh year of partnership with UNICEF, expanding the company’s ongoing support for UNICEF’s “Schools for Africa” initiative, Gucci is proud to be the first corporate partner to support the new UNICEF “Schools for Asia” initiative, an educational initiative launched in 2012 to provide access to quality basic education for disadvantaged children across Asia and the Pacific. Gucci will make an inaugural donation of $350,000 in the name of the Gucci children’s collection to support UNICEF education programs in the provinces of Yunnan and Chongqing in China. Additionally, 25% of the retail price of each item in the Flag Collection that is sold will be donated to provide further support to UNICEF’s “Schools for Africa” and “Schools for Asia” education initiatives.
“We are grateful to Gucci for pledging resources for UNICEF’s ‘Schools for Asia’ initiative that will help to provide crucial improvements in primary education for the most vulnerable children in China. The new initiative will give children, especially girls, orphans and those living in extreme poverty, the chance for a better start in life,” said Leila Pakkala, Director of UNICEF's Private Fundraising and Partnerships Division. “Gucci’s expanded commitment to supporting education will help to equip children across both Africa and Asia with the knowledge, skills and confidence to shape better futures for themselves, their communities.”
Inspired by the international vision and global appeal of the House of Gucci, the Flag Collection includes a series of items destined to become collectibles, ranging from tees to handbags and zip-around wallets—all distinguished by a new stylization of the interlocking GG logo, with the colors of different national flags from around the world.
Frida Giannini, honored in 2011 by the U.S. Fund for UNICEF at the inaugural Women of Compassion Luncheon, commented, “As combinations of colors are symbolic in flags, representing ideals, this new collection further signifies Gucci's continuous commitment to improving the quality of education in the most disadvantaged areas and for the most vulnerable children. I am proud to support these important initiatives, as an education is a gift forever.”
On a light grey base, the cotton jersey t-shirts sport the macro GG print with the colors of Italy, France, United Kingdom, Germany and Russia, of western and eastern countries from the United States and Brazil to Japan, and other countries spanning from the Emirates to Korea.
This iconic motif is also featured on exclusive handbags in GG plus, with calfskin top handles and trim: The duffle with detachable shoulder strap, the medium-size tote bag and Gucci’s signature Boston bag—all with matching wallets—are distinguished by the flag-colored initials of founder Guccio Gucci, which create a vibrant and fashionable contrast on the surface.
The global Gucci/UNICEF partnership began in 2005, when the company introduced the first annual Gucci Campaign to benefit UNICEF. This international alliance is the most extensive philanthropic partnership in Gucci’s history, and supports UNICEF programs for some of the most disadvantaged children in sub-Saharan Africa* and mainland China (Yunnan and Chongqing provinces). Each year, Gucci has intensified the company’s commitment to UNICEF—and to saving and improving children’s lives—by continuing the annual “Gucci for UNICEF” bag campaign and introducing new initiatives to support the partnership. In this highly active seven-year period, Gucci has succeeded in committing over $12 million to UNICEF. This significant sum is a testament to the increased scale and scope of the company’s support, and has resulted in Gucci’s current status as one of the largest corporate donors to UNICEF’s “Schools for Africa” initiative and one of the founding corporate partners of UNICEF’s “Schools for Asia” initiative. These UNICEF education initiatives aim to increase access to quality basic education for all children, with a special emphasis on helping the most disadvantaged children living in extreme poverty. The funds raised by the Gucci Flag Collection campaign will support UNICEF programs in Malawi and Mozambique* and the provinces of Yunnan and Chongqing in China. For more information, please visit gucci.com/unicef.