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Gucci: From Handbags to Riches

Perhaps Guccio Gucci never realized the extent at which his handbags will be adored by millions of women all across the world. From the time that he first opened his store in 1921 to the present time, he would not have imagined that his bags would stand the test of time and become one of the icons of the history of the fashion world and would give birth to a fashion house.

In fact, there are some who would kill for a Gucci handbag whether it be the new stocks that have come fresh from the designer’s notebooks or those that have already made the rounds of various thrift shops. No doubt, there is much value placed in an authentic Gucci handbag, whether it be 15 years old or 15 minutes old.

Guccio Gucci started with a small luggage and saddlery company in Florence, where he sold leather goods that are exclusively made by Florence craftsmen. Owning to the support of sophisticated international clients, Gucci opened another shop, this time in Via Condotti, Rome. Though quite popular with consumers, it was only in 1947 that the first Gucci handbag attained an icon status with the first handbag to have a bamboo handle. The handbag, introduced by Gucci, was a great success with the Gucci handbag symbol of striped webbing derived from saddle girth. The striped webbing symbol has become so distinctive and so identified with the Gucci products, whether handbags or clothes that it made into a trademark

Another icon Gucci handbag was introduced a couple of years after– the moccasin handbag with metal bit. When Gucci died in 1953, the company was riding its high especially with the opening of its first New York store, Hollywood stars Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn and Peter Sellers brought the brand into stardom but it was First lady Jackie Kennedy that popularized the bag that has come to be known today as the “Jackie O.”

After expansion in the United States and in Europe, Gucci opened his first stores in Asia, targeting Asian fashion capitals, Hong Kong and Tokyo in the seventies. In the early 80s, Maurizio Gucci took on the leadership and in 1984, Domenico de Sole became the president of Gucci America. Shares of the Gucci company was sold and de Sole became the CEO of the group NV. Today, Gucci handbags are still enjoying the adoration and adulation of many loyalists. In fact, their recent hobo bag designs are one of the top selling handbags in the market today. Even with its really obscene price, women line up the stores and even reserve their stocks of really great Gucci designs.

In 1990, Tom Ford took on the reins of Creative Director and brought the Gucci name back into the limelight with his great designs and innovations. Tom Ford’s first collection was a really big success not only in the American runways but also across the globe. Not only does Gucci been producing handbags, shoes and clothes, the company has also acquired a small but profitable watch company, Severin Montres in 1997.

The year 1998 saw the Gucci brand riding high with its being named European Company of the Year by the European Business Press Federation. In 2004, when Tom Ford left the company, Frida Giannini was appointed to head the Accessories collection, which would preside over the design and development of handbags. And even in 2005, when Gucci appointed Giannini as creative director for women’s ready to wear, she still continued her responsibilities with accessories and Gucci handbags.

About the Author:

Joyce Dietzel writes for-guccie-handbags.com a website dedicated to authentic gucci handbags


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