NO PRESENTATION: Gucci has canceled its Seoul show scheduled for November 1 in light of the recent tragic events in the South Korean capital.
On Saturday night, more than 150 people were killed and dozens injured after being crushed by a large crowd in the Itaewon nightlife district while celebrating Halloween. Hundreds of people are still missing. Local authorities have declared a state of national mourning while investigations are carried out to identify the causes behind the fatal increase.
“Our hearts are heavy with sorrow for those who lost their lives or were injured in the tragic event in Itaewon, Seoul. In respect of the national mourning period and in alignment with the Korea Cultural Heritage Administration, Gucci will not proceed with the planned event at Gyeongbokgung Palace on November 1,” read a statement released by the fashion house on Sunday. . “We send our deepest condolences to the families and friends of all those who have been affected by this terrible tragedy.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of all those who have been affected by this terrible tragedy in Itaewon, a neighborhood that is home to our Gaok store in Seoul. In these difficult times, we remain steadfast in our commitment to our team and to the people of Korea who mourn the devastating loss of life,” added Gucci Chairman and CEO Marco Bizzarri.
A post on Gucci’s Instagram page reaffirmed the company’s condolences over the tragic event.
As reported, the brand was supposed to organize its Cosmogonie show, which was presented for the first time in May in Apulia. This would have marked the first time that Gucci creative director Alessandro Michele had held a show in Korea, and for the occasion, the lineup would have also seen the addition of a number of new looks to the original collection.
Gyeongbokgung Palace is a key historical landmark in Seoul built in 1395 during the Joseon Dynasty, and Michele chose it with the aim of paying homage to the beauty of South Korea’s cultural heritage.
In the 15th century, Gyeongbokgung Palace housed a highly regarded astronomical research center, including Ganuidae, the Royal Observatory, making it a suitable venue to present the astronomy-inspired Gucci Cosmogonie collection.
In the run up to the event, Gucci began building buzz by hiring Hanni, lead singer of NewJeans, as its newest brand ambassador. Joining other local ambassadors including “Squid Game” actor Lee Jung-Jae and music artist Kai, the K-pop star was expected to make his first appearance for the Italian brand on Tuesday at the show in seoul.
Further strengthening its ties with the country, earlier this year Gucci also opened its fourth Gucci Osteria outpost in the Korean capital, on the top floor of its Gaok flagship store located in the Itaewon district.
Conceived by Massimo Bottura, the Michelin-starred chef behind the Gucci Osteria format and a close friend of Bizzarri’s, the Seoul restaurant is decorated after the model of the first Florence location, which opened in 2018.
Source: news.google.com