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Heritage Brands & Their Modern Legacies


Brands begin and end everyday. Yet, there are some that have withstood the trials of time, primarily due to their high-quality products and simple grit. With talk about three such brands and what they are doing today.

By: Soumya Jain

It’s never been easy to start and successfully run a luxury brand. It involves high investment, high-quality products, impeccable designs and gracious customer service. Some brands, however, have gone through all these trials and perfected their strategies, enabling them to exist more than decades! Here are three brands that have done just that and how they are faring today.

GUCCI
Luxury lifestyle brand Gucci was founded by Guccio Gucci in 1921 in Florence, Italy. Gucci began as a luxury leather goods shop initially, crafting handbags, shoes, and his iconic ornamented loafer, going on to silks and knitwear in a signature pattern. By 1953, Gucci had become an international sensation with celebrities and jet-set travelers. The brand left no stone unturned in experimenting and creating distinctive lines which were unprecedented before.

In the 1990s, Gucci became a conglomerate as it started acquiring other heritage brands such as Bottega Veneta and Yves Saint Laurent. As environmental concerns grow, Gucci recently banned the use of fur in its collections. At the moment, the brand Gucci is headed by Alessandro Michele, who has turned around the brand with his unique skill set of creating dramatic ensembles. Not just the collections, but the entire environment of the brand has changed under Alessendro Michele. Speaking the language of the millennials, Gucci is a funky, vibrant and an uber cool brand today. Alessandro Michele regularly collaborates with social media icons, influencers and artists who are creating raves in their own world, to create a new universe for the brand.



Gucci may have started as a sophisticated leather goods brand, but it has become more than just a product maker. It is in the deepest consciousness of the younger generation today.

HOUSE OF ANGADI
Probably the longest living brand in this list, House of Angadi has been existence for 600 years. Started as a coalition of weavers who created for the royals and aristocrats of South India, House of Angadi has today evolved into a brand which now caters to modern royals – film celebrities and state heads. Its products, however, adhere to their ages-old techniques and style. And that is why the brand has found a new lease of life.



As millennials undergo a transformation to start seeking the quality of yesteryears, House of Angadi has again found a foothold in modern consciousness. From dressing Indian actress Deepika Padukone for her Konkani wedding to creating a new brand called Advaya, House of Angadi is on a new tangent with its heritage intact.

FENDI
Not far from Gucci, Fendi opened its doors in 1925 in Rome, Italy. Initiating operations as a fur and leather goods company, Fendi hasn’t looked back since then. Having always been a sophisticated brand, Fendi continues to uphold its values till today. Karl Lagerfeld, who helmed the creative designs at this brand until his recent death, ensured classical collections which will always be in demand, highlighted by shades and patterns of the time.

But while Gucci experimented much with materials, Fendi seems to have given a lot of thought into construction and cut of its accessories. For example, Fendi Baguette and Fendi Peekaboo have proven to be, time and again, utilitarian bags which have improved women’s lives across years. Fendi Baguette, due to its small, sleek size – much like the French bread – has found much love among all. Fendi Baguette, therefore, fits snugly inside the arm, dispelling with the ages old problem of where to hold the bag without it being obtrusive? Fendi Peekaboo, on the other hand, helps with its numerous hidden pockets.




Fendi, today, is at a very comfortable junction of classic and modern. It’s a hard balance to maintain, but Fendi seems to be doing it effortlessly.

Location: India

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