Frida Giannini


Frida Giannini is an Italian fashion designer. She was the creative director of the Italian fashion house Gucci from 2006 to 2014.

Education

Giannini studied fashion design at Rome's Fashion Academy.

Career

In 1997, Giannini worked for Fendi to design ready-to-wear. After three seasons, she was promoted to designer of leather goods. In 2002, she joined Gucci as design director of handbags.
In 2004, Giannini was appointed to head women's accessories when Tom Ford departed the company. At the time, Gucci stores focused its inventory on the "GG" monogram canvas bag. Giannini attempted to change Gucci's style from Tom Ford's designs by drawing from Gucci's heritage. Based on the 1960s Grace Kelly scarf, she developed the "Flora" collection of colorful bags. The collection was not well received by critics. In 2006, Women's Wear Daily commented: "Trends do not start here." However, Flora proved to be Giannini's first commercial success and she applied the style to other accessories including ballet shoes. In 2006, Giannini was promoted to Creative Director for the entire Gucci label.
Giannini continues to design from heritage. For example, the 2010 Winter Men's line was noted for influences from Gucci's equestrian history. However, Giannini says, "I don't think it is a nostalgic collection, but heritage is good for me—going back to the archives, but looking forward to the future."
In 2011 she created, in collaboration with Lapo Elkann, the Fiat 500 by Gucci, a special edition of the Italian car.
On 12 December 2014 Kering SA announced Frida Giannini and Patrizio di Marco will be leaving the company. Giannini plans to see the fall/winter collection through to the Milan Fashion Week and departed in early 2015. Her successor is Alessandro Michele.

Film work

In 2013 she designed costumes for Olivia Wilde and Chris Hemsworth in the film Rush.

Personal life

Giannini collects vinyl records, with her collection currently at 8,000.
Giannini married Patrizio Di Marco on 5 June 2015; their daughter Greta was born in 2012.

Media

The life and work of Giannini was the subject of 2013 film The Director - An Evolution in Three Acts.