Best-known for his extensive body of work in France and abroad, including The Beach (2000), Tell No One (2006), for which he won the Cesar award for Best Director, Farwell (2009), Last Night (2010), War of Bottons (2012) and Blood ties (2013), his latest American film selected for the Cannes Film Festival, Canet is also a passionate show jumper, having competed with the junior French National Equestrian Team in his youth.

After one of his most recent films, Jappeloup (2013), about the life of a lawyer who gave up his career to pursue professional show-jumping before eventually winning the 1988 Summer Olympics, Canet has decided to return to the equestrian world.

Canet’s first official outing in Gucci colors is at the Global Championship Tour (GCT) in Monaco from June 27th to 29th where he will partner with Edwina Tops-Alexander for the Pro-am Cup.  As with Ms. Casiraghi and Edwina, Guillaume’s competition wardrobe includes clothing and accessories specially designed for him by Giannini. In keeping with the collection’s ties to Gucci’s equestrian heritage, the pieces prominently feature the iconic Gucci crest logo over a black background.

Gucci Creative Director Frida Giannini said, “The Gucci men’s world is an essential part of the House and thus, it was a natural evolution to extend the equestrian wardrobe to this category. I am delighted to be providing Guillaume with this gear as he returns to the passion of riding that is so close to me as well.”

Guillaume Canet said, “I am very pleased to join the Gucci team and am proud to resume competing in their colors, especially since the House is very much involved in the sport.

To rediscover myself as a rider has given me great joy and I would like to thank Frida Giannini and her team for their support. “

Guillaume recently won the “Prix Licarzo” (CSI 1) at the Cannes Jumping International, which is part of the GCT, and will continue to compete on this circuit throughout the year, with upcoming stops in Chantilly and Lyon. He will also sport the House’s riding wardrobe at the Gucci Paris Masters from December 5th to 8th 2013.

Founded in Florence in 1921, Gucci is one of the world’s leading luxury fashion brands. When Guccio Gucci first opened his company, horseriding often inspired the motifs and symbols of his designs.  Over the years, Gucci’s green-red-green web stripe, appropriated from a horse’s girth strap, as well as the horsebit have become iconic design components ingrained in the House’s history. Recently, Gucci has been strengthening its ties to the equestrian world through ongoing sponsorships including the Gucci Paris Masters.

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