Gucci is cancelling its Nov. 1 show in Seoul due to recent tragic events in the South Korean capital. On the night of Halloween, over 150 people died and dozens were injured. The crowd was crushed during a stampede down a narrow alleyway in the Itaewon nightlife district.
Gucci has delayed its most recent show due to a shocking incident that occurred in South Korea’s Seoul over the weekend. The collection, “Cosmogonie” first premiered in Apulia in May. This would have been Gucci creative director Alessandro Michele’s first appearance in Korea, and the lineup included various brand-new looks in addition to the original collection.
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol declared a week of national mourning following the disaster on Sunday. Local authorities are looking into what caused the crowd to swell in the capital’s nightlife district of Itaewon.
Paying Respects
In the buildup to the event, the Italian fashion house named a new ambassador; Hanni, the lead singer of NewJeans. The K-pop star joins other local ambassadors such as “Squid Game” actor Lee Jung-Jae. In addition, musical artist Kai was set to make her first appearance for the Italian brand in Seoul.
Gucci’s venue choice, The Gyeongbokgung Palace, was home to a highly regarded astronomy research centre in the 15th century. This includes Ganuidae, the Royal Observatory; making this a fitting location to present the Gucci Cosmogonie collection, which draws inspiration from astronomy.
“Our hearts are filled with grief for those who lost their lives or were injured in the tragic event in Itaewon, Seoul. In respect for the period of national mourning and in alignment with the Korean Cultural Heritage Administration, Gucci will not be proceeding with the planned event at Gyeongbokgung Palace on November 1st,”
reads a statement released by the fashion house on Sunday.
“We send our deepest condolences to the families and friends of all those who have been affected by this terrible tragedy.”
The Aftermath
Three South Korean military personnel were killed in an apparent crowd surge Saturday night in the popular Seoul nightclub district Itaewon, a Korean defence ministry official told CNN on Sunday. 23-year-old Grace Rached, hailing from Sydney, is one of over 150 people to lose their lives in the tragedy.
Hundreds of people remain unaccounted for, and local authorities have declared a state of national mourning. Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the fatal surge.
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