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Gucci has partnered with actor Kingsley Ben-Adir on a new visual campaign that reintroduces the brand’s iconized Horsebit 1953 loafer using a minimalistic setting and portrait-style modeling.
Under the creative direction of Sabato De Sarno and photographed by Heji Shin, the campaign was intended to combine elements of nostalgia and forward-thinking.
The Horsebit 1953 loafer, an equestrian-inspired footwear silhouette fronted by the brand for decades as a symbol of sporty, casual and sensual elegance, was presented throughout the campaign simultaneously as a classic staple and as a source of modern influence.
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The brand’s Horsebit 1953 loafer, always adorned with the double ring and bar made to resemble a miniature version of the metal rings on a horse’s bridle, typically features a less than 1-inch heel and is crafted with soft matte leather in shades in black, brown and cream, among others. Several other Gucci styles are designed with the same horsebit detail including the brand’s Horsebit ballet flats and Horsebit mules.
Gucci has released several other celebrity-fronted campaigns over the past few years under the oversight of De Sarno and in celebration of the Horsebit 1953 loafer. Most recently, Paul Mescal and Xiao Zhan were featured in a 2023 campaign that marked the style’s 70th anniversary. Photographed by Heji Shin, the stars were captured wearing minimalistic outfits that highlighted the classic metal-adorned slip-on shoe.
