How the Gucci Bag Got its Bamboo Handle
The bamboo handle is synonymous with Gucci handbags today, but what originally inspired the use of the unique material?
Following World War II, there was a leather shortage in Europe and luxuries were rationed, so the artisans and designers at Gucci needed to look for new design materials for their bags. In 1947, Guccio Gucci, the founder of the brand, turned to bamboo cane, which was imported from Japan, as the material was not rationed.
To create the handle for the bag, Gucci's artisans first placed the bamboo cane over fire to heat it up in order to mold it. As the bamboo heated up and softened, the craftsman manipulated the wood into the desired handle shape.
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After the handle was created, the bamboo was then finished with its signature gloss lacquer and then 'toasted' to a golden-brown color, giving each piece its unique look.
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In the 1950s and 60s, the bag was coveted by fashionistas around the globe, adorning the arms of Ingrid Bergman and Elizabeth Taylor. In fact, these bags were so popular, in 1958, Gucci patented the bamboo handle, so that no other fashion brand could copy the look.
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In the Spring Summer 2010 collection, Gucci's then Creative Director Frida Giannini presented 'The New Bamboo' a modern update of the signature bag. The ''New Bamboo'' bag was made up of 140 elements, all of which are put together by an artisan in Gucci's Florentine workshop the same way it first would have been crafted in 1947, and each bag took 13 hours of work to complete.
Then in 2021, Gucci revived their 1991 tote with bamboo handles as the Gucci Diana. It was named for Princess Diana, who was frequently seen with the original Gucci tote in the '90s.
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Gucci bamboo-handle bags can be found on Barnebys, at prices starting as low as a few hundred dollars. However, Gucci bamboo bags paired with exotic leather have fetched up to $9,000 at auction. For over 80 years, the chic, exotic touch of bamboo is forever associated with Gucci and is also a reminder of the brand's constant innovation and creativity.
This is an updated version of the article originally published on November 13, 2017.
