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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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