We Speak to 1 of the 68 Twins That Walked Gucci Twinsburg

The Pollak Twins for Gucci Twinsburg SS23. Courtesy of Gucci.

Gucci’s creative director Alessandro Michele surprised the audience with a twin-themed show for the brand’s SS23 show. Inspired by his upbringing and observations of his “two mothers”; his own mother and his aunt that are identical twins, the collection explores expressions of an individual’s identity in duality – as he concludes, “the revelation: the same clothes emanate different qualities on seemingly identical bodies.”

Friends of SLEEK, the Pollak twins were one of the 68 pairs of identical twins that were cast and they answer all of the questions we’re curious about.

Courtesy of Pollak Twins

SLEEK: Is it true you were cast at the Twins Day Festival?

Pollak Twins: No. We had never heard of the festival in Ohio before meeting some of the other twins. GE Projects in the US reached out to us and then connected us with the Gucci team. At first, we were told it would be for a fashion film, client Unknown. It was all very hush-hush. Having worked behind the scenes for a decade we didn’t think anything would come from it.

S: Can you tell us about it?

PT: Our first dialogue was around the end of July–the beginning of August. Then we got flown to Milan a week before the show in a whirlwind. We kept sending emails to the entire team at Gucci saying “we’re not models!” but they really wanted to meet us. There were 220 identical twins at our hotel and 68 pairs ended up being cast.

Backstage at Gucci SS23. Courtesy of Pollak Twins

S: History has always been fascinated by twins. Why do you think that is?

PT: I think as a non-twin it is hard to fathom the idea of another self. A mirror that shows you both the good and the bad. Maybe the fascination stems from the notion that being a twin is a supernatural power. We have the ability to stand outside ourselves and look at ourselves — something that non-twins will never be able to experience.

S: Alessandro Michele quoted, “twins remind us of ‘the connective tissue’ in families and in society.” What does being a twin mean to you?

PT: What Alessandro wrote about being a twin moved us to tears and made us feel deeply understood. For us, he found the perfect words to communicate what it means to be a twin. People always say “two bodies one soul,” but this is not true. We are two individuals with our own dreams and desires but at the same time, we have this undeniable delicate quality of oneness, which transcends far beyond the physical dimension. This is the invisible “connective tissue” Alessandro is referring to.

Backstage at Gucci SS23. Courtesy of Pollak Twins

S: Can you describe the energy of the day and backstage before the show?

PT: Backstage was so emotional. When we returned to our spots in the lineup after our first walk and the wall was lifted we could hear a roar of applause coming from the audience. The entire Gucci team had tears in their eyes. It really moved us. During the general rehearsal, Alessandro emphasised that he wanted feeling. At that moment, we knew he had succeeded.

S: What was it like to work with Alessandro?

PT: Alessandro and his entire team ooze creativity and above all, they were incredibly kind. Everyone’s passion and dedication to detail were stimulating to observe. When Alessandro looks at you before you go out on the runway for the final approval and says “perfetto,” it feels like you have been blessed by some sort of god. It’s a powerful feeling.

Backstage at Gucci SS23. Courtesy of Pollak Twins

S: Did you decide who will stand left or right?

PT: Gucci decided for us. During our fittings, they moved us around a couple of times. On the general rehearsal day, we saw that they had switched us back to our preferred sides; Antonia on the right (#38A) and Francesca on the left (#38B).

S: Was there any confusion backstage on who is who?

PT: No. Everything was marked and labelled so there would be no confusion, even the clothes had our names sewn into them. Producers and casting were walking around with lists to make sure you don’t leave your spot. The lineup was the only time during the process we were all separated from our twins.

Courtesy of Pollak Twins

S: What are some of your best identical looks from over the years?

PT: We never dress the same but are drawn to similar style. Here’s our top looks from then and now [referring to the old photographs]. Same but different identical twins.

S: So…did you own a gremlin growing up?

PT: Yes, but not a Gucci one. They sparked everyones curiosity at the fittings. There was a ‘gremlin wrangler.’

S: Who are your living (or dead) twinspiration?

PT: Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. Now and always.

S: Favourite twin film or literature characters?

PT: We love Olivier Assayas’ Personal Shopper (2016), where Kristen Stewart plays a heartbreakingly lonely girl who tries to communicate with her twin brother who has just died. As a twin you are only whole with the presence of the other.

Courtesy of Pollak Twins

S: What are the wildest twin theories you’ve heard? Can you debunk them?

PT: When we used to live in London we would have strangers or tourists come up to us and ask to stand between us for good luck. It’s never happened in any other city other than London. Any theory can be true if you believe in it enough.

S: Besides walking the Gucci Twinsburg SS23 runway, what are the other top twin moments you’ve had or like to have?

PT: To be honest, we are not sure how this once-in-a-lifetime moment centred solely around the individuality of duality and the essence of being a twin can be topped. Gucci Twinsburg was otherworldly and so magical.