Designer clothes, jewelry, and accessories are sought after by anyone looking to make bold statements with their look. Brands with luxury reputations have distinct styles and insignias that make it apparent that you mean business.

One of the most famous designer brands is Gucci, known for its sterling jewelry and iconic three-stripe design. They stand for desirability, and despite being the most expensive brand in the world, they garner a lot of attention.

With that high price tag comes an expectation of quality, but believe it or not, the cost of Gucci’s products has nothing to do with their quality. So why is it that this brand has cemented itself as the most prestigious fashion company in the world?

History of Gucci

Although the luxury line is now known for its decadent purses, rings, and shoes, they didn’t initially act as a fashion brand. Italian leather maker Guccio Gucci opened up a small shop in Florence in the early 1900s where he made horse saddles and other accessories for riders. His business began to spread across Europe, as there weren’t many other businesses who did this exact same thing.

Come the 1930s, leather was hard to come by, so Gucci experimented with other textiles as alternatives. This is when the interconnected diamond pattern that Gucci is now known for arose. Eventually, a boutique opened in New York, where products began to stray from horseback riding and more towards everyday wearability.

After Gucci passed away in the 50s, the interconnected G logo came into existence as an homage to the company’s creator. The popularity of the brand continued to soar as several celebrities sported their favorite Gucci products and accessories. 

Today, Gucci’s creative director is Alessandro Michele, one of the most reputable Italian fashion designers in the industry. With him at the helm, it’s hard to see a future where Gucci won’t reign supreme as the nation’s most renowned designer brand.

What Makes Gucci Products Expensive?

Despite Gucci’s humble beginnings, it has now become a luxury fashion label that is largely inaccessible for most of us. But why is that?

Brand Image

Like most luxury brands, Gucci knows its audience. The company’s motto basically states that they make products as expensive as people are willing to pay. And they know that their clientele is willing to pay a lot.

Gucci does not try to cater to everyone: they only target the immensely wealthy. Since their products are so high in price, they only need to appeal to a selective audience that will be willing to drop $600 for a T-Shirt.

And since the brand banks on its own prestige, they know that their customer base will continually purchase their products merely to prove that they can. It’s emblematic that one of the main reasons for Gucci’s price has nothing to do with their catalog, but everything to do with their name alone.

Marketing and Endorsements

Gucci has always used its prestige and elegance as a selling point, using beautiful models shot in pristine locations to give the essence of glamour. Notably, the company uses celebrity ambassadors to promote its products.

The company invites some of the finest artists and designers to create clothing for the brand, and to show off their new items, they’ll bring in high profile clients to prove that the pieces are worth buying. Now that the brand has such a reputation, they bring in huge names like Harry Styles, Jared Leto, and Lana Del Ray.

When icons wear these products, it makes them seem much more appealing to a consumer base, but it will also drive up the price tag. People will do whatever necessary to be like their role models, and paying a higher price is one of those things.

Product Manufacturing

While Gucci’s products themselves are part of the reason for their inflated prices, it may not be in the exact way that you’d think. Gucci uses high-quality metals in their jewelry and leathers in their accessories, but they don’t really do anything different from other brands that only run a fraction of the cost.

The reason for the expense of the products specifically comes from the fact that Gucci outsources some of the most renowned and talented designers in the industry to create their pieces. This is a laborious effort, so a good portion of the price of Gucci products comes from the work behind each one’s creation.

With that said, the care and time put into each item do not necessarily denote higher quality than any other name brands that sell similar accessories. It’s a combination of the labor with Gucci’s reputation and huge overheads.

Symbol of Wealth

Perhaps the biggest reason why Gucci and other luxury brands like Louis Vuitton and Chanel run such a steep cost is due to the representation of the company itself. The brand has solidified its reputation around wealth and opulence.

Of course, a brand can’t symbolize wealth without actually requiring wealth. If Gucci were ever to lower its prices, it would not have the same prestige that it currently upholds. Yet again, this shows that the brand’s extreme cost only stems from their name and history: not the actual quality of their items.

Is Gucci Worth It?

Gucci has a long history and exists at the top of the fashion food chain. It is an influential company with the ability to resurrect or invent new trends in the world of clothing and apparel. With everything about the brand in mind, is it worth it to drop a few grand on a new bag?

Although it’s subjective, our answer is no. Gucci is a brand that represents elegance and prestige, so it only appeals to a specific clientele who wants to feel that way. Their jewelry and clothes themselves really don’t do anything truly special that warrants the high cost unless you can afford it easily.

15mm Prong Baguette Gucci Curb Chain Two-Tone 18k & White Gold

When someone takes a look at your next piece of jewelry or your next handbag, they’ll be more focused on its appearance rather than any fancy logos attached. If you have fashion in mind, then there are other options that you can utilize to expand your wardrobe without hiking up a credit card balance.

Are There Cheaper Alternatives?

For Gucci’s jewelry specifically, you can find many alternatives that use the same materials and are just as high-quality without needing to break the bank. Gucci rings use 18k gold, stainless steel, and sterling silver in most of their jewelry items. These are common metals that are used by many other manufacturers and look equally good, despite coming from more accessible jewelers.

3mm Round Cut Diamond Tennis Bracelet 18k Gold

One difference is that while Gucci might use solid gold in some of their accessories. This racks up the price of the piece because of the metal’s rarity. A way that other brands achieve the same appearance of a glimmering gold ring for a much lower cost is through a process called gold plating. 

Gold plating involves laying a thin layer of the metal over top of a sturdy base metal, such as stainless steel. This is a popular method of creating beautiful jewelry at only a fractional cost of solid gold. This gives you the ability to flaunt chains and necklaces that look exactly like the luxury brands.

Diamond Gucci Link Chain 18k Gold

As far as clothing and purses, department stores offer cheaper alternatives that are equally great in their quality. You do not need to drop a ton of money to look great. In fact, many Gucci products feature odd patterns that are not typical of current fashion trends, further cementing that the only reason they are attractive for many people is because of the company name.

In Summary

Despite starting as a humble Italian leather shop, the Gucci name has expanded its grasp over the entire fashion industry. Its iconic logo, diamond, and stripe designs make it an easily recognizable symbol of class and wealth.

However, the only reason Gucci is so expensive comes down to the name itself. Through its opulent reputation, celebrity endorsements, and specific clientele, we will never see a world in which designer brands will be affordable for the masses.

This is why cheap alternatives are not only a necessity but a more beneficial way to show off your style. These look just as good, if not better than designer brands, and they won’t completely empty out your wallet.

Sources:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-big-questions/200912/why-we-are-obsessed-celebrities

https://www.sciencefocus.com/science

https://www.npr.org/2011/02/10