Gucci was founded in Florence in 1921 and this year celebrates 90 years of the Gucci brand. In honour of the birthday, there will be a Gucci 1921 collection and we’ll see a Gucci bag revival of some of the Italian accessories and classic bags from the brand over the years, including the Jackie (named after Jackie O), Horsebit and Bamboo.

The collection will have a new trademark “G.GUCCI Firenze 1921″ which will feature across the new range, and it will be available in select Gucci stores from June this year. The collection includes the New Bamboo, New Jackie (pictured above) and Horsebit Chain handbags in leather and crocodile skin, and old-school loafers and moccasins celebrating summer. The men’s accessory range will include two vintage-style travel suitcases in Gucci’s classic Diamante pattern.

Gucci creative director Frida Giannini says: “Throughout this year we are celebrating Gucci’s anniversary in many different ways, and with this special commemorative collection I wanted to pay homage to the icons, craftsmanship and luxury materials for which the House has become renowned since its founding by Guccio Gucci in 1921. Each item in the collection tells a story, representing a chapter within the House’s rich narrative history.”

Source | Vividluxuryblog

Italy’s Lamborghini supercar brand has a new weapon in its line-up - the Aventador. The new model was recently revealed at the Geneva Motor Show and is an evolution for Lambo which should increase the company’s fortunes after struggling profits. The luxury Italian brand, despite making sales, has needed to renew its ageing line-up, and the new Lamborghini Aventador is a smart-looking model which is highly anticipated by fans.

Already sold out for 2011, here we see the Aventador in a video from the streets of Berlin. Appropriately, passers-by stop to observe the stunning model flexing its revs on the pavement, before the Italians step out to stop traffic and organise some manoeuvres in true Italian style. Who else in the world would back up a Lamborghini in city traffic with someone waving the other cars to a stop? Check out the Aventador in live pics from the motor show below.

Source | Autoblog.com

This Trussardi design on the BMW 5 Series marks an Italian-German effort at a luxury car. The Trussardi 5 Series is on show at the Trussardi ‘palazzo’ in Milan, in the piazza of the Scala opera house. The car itself is designed to be a large limousine-crossover model with BMW’s touch of elegance and sports style.

The Trussardi design part is inspired by the traditions of the Italian fashion house - the classic leather of its gloves and accessories of the past. New interior and exterior finishes have been designed, including a brand new colour called Heraldic Brown. It’s been done in three layers and the colour changes as you look at it, depending on its exposure to light. Some external trim has been done in the same colour, other features are done in dark grey matt. The Trussardi logo is featured on the front, near the indicators.

On the inside of the BMW 5 Series Trussardi a special Leather Glove Beige upholstery has been used for the seats, with contrasting stitching which was inspired by a historical glove from the Trussardi archives. The Trussardi logo has been fired onto the head rests and down the centre. No pricing has been released, but Trussardi package is available on all 5 Series Gran Turismo models.

BMW 5 Series Trussardi

Continue reading: BMW 5 Series Trussardi luxury car

Prada is to open a new flagship store in Russia; the Italian brand has in fact just rented a huge store in one of Moscow’s most luxury districts (between Bolshaya Dmitrovka and Stoleshnikov Pereylok). The inauguration of the 1,700 square metre flagstore should take place next year.

With Contemporary Moscow frequently referred to as the fifth fashion capital of the world, following Paris, Milan, London and New York, Russian luxury market has become vital for most International brands!

Source | Rt.com

The Italians and the French might not get along for their football matches, but they certainly seem to find middle ground when it comes to luxury brands. And while we said not many Italian brands outside fashion can claim international status, we’ll happily add Montegrappa pens to the list, along with Fiat. Shareholder and brand ambassador for Montegrappa, Jean Alesi, together with CEO Giuseppe Aquila, presented French president Nicolas Sarkozy with a special Montegrappa pen, personalised in honour of Muhammad Ali.

From mixed French-Italian background, Jean Alesi received the Legion of Honour from former French president Jacques Chirac, and this was his second occasion to meet a French president. For his part, Sarkozy is apparently an avid collector of writing implements, not to mention an expert on the Montegrappa brand. The pen in question was chosen especially for the President from many in the Montegrappa line-up, with Alesi drawing a link between the fighting spirit of Ali and that of Sarkozy who has many battles currently in his presidency.

Sarkozy has now entered an exclusive group of heads of state, popes, royal leaders, actors, musicians, artists, sports stars, top models, writers (appropriately so - should we have mentioned them first?) and celebrities who own a Montegrappa pen. Among them are illustrious names such as: Ernest Hemingway, Pope John Paul II, King Juan Carlos of Spain and King Hussein of Jordan, Queen Sirikit of Thailand, Al Pacino, Michael Jackson, Stirling Moss, Naomi Campbell, Paulo Coelho and many others.

Source | Montegrappa.com