It’s the last day of January, which can only mean that the search has already begun for everyone to find that special someone to spend Valentines day with. And where this pursuit so often lacks the fuzziness and lustre of rom-com novels, Gucci are delivering the romance to us, with their limited edition zine titled “A Love Story Presented by Gucci”. The Italian luxury fashion house collaborates with Los Angeles-based visual artist Ariana Papademetropoulos to curate a collection of digital and printed images which tell the fairy-tale-esque love story between a fairy and a giant.

The star-crossed lovers represent peoples tendency to compartmentalise themselves within specific groups: the fairy is tiny and precious, the giant is great and strong. Reflecting the attitudes of past and present societal milieu, the love between two such people would never work out. So the fairy, played by Ariana herself, leaves her giant in the hopes of finding the same love with someone her own size. Upon finding her people, who are just the same as her, she wants to believe she has found true happiness, yet her memories of the giant pull her straight back to him. It is a story of caution, of heartbreak and of inspiration. Where reality is not seen as a linear pathway, and where there is no sphere in which two different species cannot co-habit.

Gucci artfully leverages the touching story to showcase their Valentine’s Day 2022 collection, which fittingly places their unique values and ideals of love to the forefront of the pieces. Designed by Creative Director Alessandro Michele, the collection draws upon the digital universe which Ariana and Alexandra Cabral created, evoking a strong connection between the collection and its muse. The geometric heart-shaped bags effortlessly capture the multi-faceted love depicted in the story. The dream-like lucidity present within the story is weaved into the whimsical design of the GG monogram Ace sneakers and slides, and the sweetness is scribed onto the Padlock and Petite Marmont bags which boast strawberry and cherry detailing.

Proving that love truly conquers all, Gucci has made their love story available to everyone online at lovestory.gucci.com. There will also be a limited print version, which will be handed out at the Gucci Garden bookstore in Florence and the Gucci Wooster in NYC from the 10th of February — just in time for Valentines.