Gucci’s Pre-Fall 2017 Campaign Features ALL-BLACK Models

Back in January of this year, DM Fashion Book exclusively reported that Gucci‘s Pre Fall 2017 Campaign will feature ONLY BLACK MODELS (see it here).

The “auditions” videos were taken in London, and casting was done by Midland Agency, a progressive company that counts Hood By Air and Eckhaus Latta as clients. Other than that, we didn’t know any additional info because Gucci kept mum on the specifics, well up until now.

Today, Thursday (April 13), the Italian fashion house released the official ad campaign and the brand’s creative director Alessandro Michele proved why he’s the “fashion king”.

Titled “Soul Scene,” the Pre-Fall 2017 campaign, which was photographed by Glen Luchford and art directed by Christopher Simmonds, does indeed feature a cast of ALL BLACK models — Nicole Atieno, Elibeidy, Bakay Diaby and Keiron Berton Caynes — and more than 20 dancers.

Creative directed and styled by Michele himself, the campaign was initially inspired by the exhibit “Made You Look,” which took place at the Photographer’s Gallery in London last summer and focused on black masculinity and dandyism. Michele referenced one particular featured artist, Malick Sidibé, whose portrait work is mainly inspired by the nightlife and youth culture of his hometown Bamako, Mali, in West Africa. Gucci‘s creative director highlighted England‘s ’60s-era underground music movement called Northern Soul for the campaign, having the models party, dance and pose within the Mildmay Club in London.

Michele also recently announced Gucci‘s upcoming Cruise 2018 runway show will take place in Florence, Italy.