Copyright gqindia
With the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics just around the corner, it was only a matter of time before the big luxury brands decided to take advantage of the occasion. Gucci chose to go big, presenting Gucci Altitude, the collection that marks the Florentine fashion house's debut in winter sportswear, with an exceptional star in Jannik Sinner. Before picking up a racket and climbing the ATP rankings, Gucci's Global Ambassador was also a young ski prodigy, frequenting the slopes near Sesto Pusteria until the age of 12. A true talent of the sport. "Of skiing, I really enjoy being out in nature. When you play tennis, of course, the stadiums are beautiful, but you don't always see nature. There are exceptions, like in Monte Carlo, where you have a breathtaking sea view," Sinner told GQ. "Obviously they are two completely different sports. Maybe one similarity is the sliding. We see it on all surfaces now. In tennis you're facing your opponent, whereas in skiing you're alone on the slope and you can't even communicate with your team." Even as a model, Sinner didn't fare badly at all, posing on snowy peaks with the new Gucci Altitude collection with the same naturalness we usually see him sporting on tennis courts. "It was a very special and unique shoot in the heart of the mountains. I have always loved the mountains and this shoot took place in an incredible setting. Gucci comes up with amazing ideas every time, but in this case it was something really magical, an experience I will never forget," Sinner said. In one of the images from Gucci's Altitude campaign, the Italian tennis player wears a rugged snow jacket decorated with the house's famous monogram, a perfect example of how the collection managed to combine the precision of winter sportswear with the brand's heritage. The same can be said of a pair of sneakers lined and embellished with the brand's most famous elements, as well as a pair of hiking boots or padded gloves. What would be classic snow garments become, in every way, Gucci garments, combining the best technologies available in sportswear with the iconic codes of the Florentine brand. Codes that Sinner now knows well, thanks to the relationship cultivated over the years with Gucci. On and off the court, for Jannik, the fashion house has created custom bags and looks perfect for every occasion, in a synergy that we like to think has contributed to the tennis player's global rise. "Since being a Gucci ambassador, I've learned so much and I'm starting to understand the fashion world better and better. It fascinates me to discover how colors are matched, how each fabric conveys different feelings, and how even a small detail can make a difference. When I travel, I always carry my personalised backpack, a special gift I received from my friends at Gucci, which has become an inseparable companion," Jannik Sinner told GQ referring to the Ophidia backpack with his initials he received last May at the International Tennis Championships in Rome. "I like the fact that I never have to worry about how to dress for elegant events-the Gucci team always manages to come up with looks that represent me and that I feel comfortable with." From the more casual looks, consisting of cardigans and sweaters, to suits for more formal occasions, by now Jannik Sinner has chosen to fill his personal wardrobe with great Gucci signature pieces, entrusting his every choice in style-the tennis player has never hidden that he is not a great fashion expert-to the expert hands of the Florentine fashion house. So it is no surprise that this relationship has continued in the snow, a surface Jannik knows as well as the cement of the US Open or the green grass of Wimbledon, where he triumphed just a few months ago by beating Carlos Alcaraz. If you, too, know by heart the collection of Gucci bags Jannik Sinner has worn on court in recent years, you will not be surprised to learn that a new collaboration with HEAD, already a partner of the fashion house for the famous white duffel bag that the tennis player has been using for quite some time now in his sporting engagements, has also found its place in Gucci Altitude. On this occasion, the sports accessories company created a series of technical items such as skis, snowboards and helmets, as well as bags, all decorated with Gucci's iconic Web stripe. There are not many luxury brands capable of boasting a variety of codes and symbols so versatile that they work as well on an elegant handbag sported on the streets of downtown Milan as they do on a snowboard carried over the snowy peaks of the Alps. While the brand born in Florence in 1921 recently inaugurated its new creative era under the leadership of artistic director Demna-the first triumphant glimpse came during last Milan Fashion Week-Gucci Altitude is a great way to remind us once again of the brand's potential in all fields: from the catwalk to the ski slope. Even if you are not a big mountain-goer, this might be a good opportunity to start getting interested in the world of winter sports. After all, Milan-Cortina is just around the corner.
