Giuliano Calza
Founder and Designer, GCDS
The Italian designer behind white-hot label GCDS is paving his way to become one of the most important new names in streetwear.
In 2015, designer Giuliano Calza co-founded streetwear label GCDS, an abbreviation of “God Can’t Destroy Streetwear,” with his brother Giordano, who is now chief executive. His brand – now the acronym for Giuliano Calza Design Studio – is known for its slogans, ironic graphics and capsule collaborations, which have subsequently attracted the interest of models, artists and influencers, including Beyoncé, Bella Hadid , Dua Lipa and Chiara Ferragni .
Calza worked with Pamela Anderson, featuring the actress in GCDS’ Spring/Summer 2018 campaign video starring model and musician Caroline Vreeland and rapper Brooke Candy. In 2017, Calza announced the brand's sales had reached €5 million. GCDS currently retails in more than 350 stores worldwide, counting Farfetch and Selfridges among its stockists. The Calza brothers opened their first store in Milan in December 2016 have announced plans to open a store in London's Mayfair neighbourhood.
Born in Naples in 1988, Calza first studied a BA in political science and a Masters in Marketing and Communication at Bocconi University in Milan. While he studied at Bocconi, Calza found work as a casting director, stylist, digital PR and assistant in both the art and fashion industries.
Calza subsequently won a scholarship to Shanghai University at the age of 23 and moved to the Chinese city to learn Mandarin. Calza remained in Shanghai for four years, where he gained knowledge about the Chinese market and helped curate the image of Italian restaurant Mylk.
Calzathen moved back to Milan, and in 2015 founded GCDS as creative director of the brand. All products are made in Italy, with the shoes and accessories produced in Southern Italy and cotton, jersey and knitwear manufactured just outside of Milan. Aside from Giordano, who is 33, all the company’s employees are under the age of 30, configuring the label as youthful and modern in its thinking and approach.
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