Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Some Love (Or Dollars) Lost Over Gucci's ♥ of New York
By
Jen Chung
Published Feb 10, 2008
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Feb 10, 2008
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gucci has been touting its love (or ♥) of New York with a new "Gucci ♥ NY" line of luxury products and 46,000 flagship store on Fifth Avenue, but its legal department never cleared the usage of the trademarked "I ♥ NY" logo. According to the Post, the Empire State Development agency was never contacted for permission.
Accompanying another Post article about the "I ♥ NY" logo being used for cigarette and ashtrays, it turns out that state officials met with Gucci president Mark Lee and "both sides will be working this week to hammer out a deal." Lee explained the Italian brand's love of NY to Forbes:
This is the largest Gucci store in the world and that needs to be seen in the context of the relationship that Gucci has with New York, going back more than a half-century.
Gucci came to New York back in 1963. We've been in New York and on Fifth Avenue in this area for a long, long time. So in thinking about this new store, we wanted really to do special things for New York.
It's a little bit tongue-in-cheek, a little bit of a whimsical idea that our creative director had with "Gucci loves New York" as kind of a nice Valentine for New Yorkers, and give the money to charity, making it something else that helps New York. We do not profit at all from the sale of that collection. It's only available here on Fifth Avenue, so it should be a driver to send people into the store tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock when we officially cut the ribbon. All the proceeds will go to Playground Partners Central Park Improvement Program.
Well, luckily Gucci's charging $630 for a handbag (even $6,900 for a really big duffle bag), so there should be plenty for a settlement (Honda only paid NY State $45,000 to use the logo!) and to donate to the Central Park Conservancy - beneficiary of 100% of proceeds for the "Gucci Loves NY" line (and a private not-for-profit not affiliated with the city or state government).
And one question: Why were the Gucci Loves New York fashion bloggers all from...outside of New York?
Tagged
central park
central park conservancy
empire state
fifth avenue
gucci
i love new york
italian
new york
new yorkers
ny state
retail
style
the city
this week
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
The Knicks are NBA champions. Now they have to start dressing the part.
Before they attempt to fend off LeBron James and the 76ers on Tuesday, the Knicks will have a chance to show off their winning mentality through their tunnel fits.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Oct 19, 2026
Will Barnes and Noble in the East Village spell doom for smaller shops? It's complicated.
Independent booksellers are grappling with whether the big-box chain is a threat or an ally in the fight against Amazon.
By
Sonia Rao
Arts & Entertainment
Will Barnes and Noble in the East Village spell doom for smaller shops? It's complicated.
Independent booksellers are grappling with whether the big-box chain is a threat or an ally in the fight against Amazon.
By
Sonia Rao
Can eligible NYC singles find love with 30 minutes and some really spicy food?
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
How the NYC Marathon has changed in the last 50 years
By
Hannah Frishberg
A visit to Art of Play, the Brooklyn store in an animatronic bird beef with Kelly Clarkson
By
Sonia Rao
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .