The bamboo handle is now synonymous with Gucci bags, but what inspired the use of the unique material?
After World War II, there was a shortage of leather in Europe and luxury goods were rationed, so the artisans and designers at Gucci had to look for new materials for their fake designer bags. In 1947, Guccio Gucci, the brand’s founder, turned to bamboo tubes imported from Japan, as the material was not rationed.
To create the bag’s handle, Gucci’s artisans first placed the bamboo tube over fire to heat it and shape it. As the bamboo was heated and softened, the craftsman shaped the wood into the desired handle shape.
After the handle was created, the bamboo was finished with its signature varnish and then “roasted” to a golden brown color, giving each object its unique appearance.
In the 1950s and 60s, the bag was coveted by fashionistas around the world and graced the arms of Ingrid Bergman and Elizabeth Taylor, among others. In fact, the bags were so popular that in 1958 Gucci replica patented the bamboo handle, so no other fashion brand could copy the look.
In the spring/summer 2010 collection, Gucci’s then chief designer Frida Giannini presented The New Bamboo, a modern update of the signature bag. The bag consisted of 140 parts, all assembled by a craftsman in Gucci’s Florence workshop in the same way it would have been made in 1947, and each bag took 13 hours to complete.
In 2021, Gucci revived its 1991 bamboo handle bag and named it the Gucci Diana. It is named after Princess Diana, who was often seen carrying the original Gucci bag in the 90s.
Gucci Replica Luxury bags with bamboo handles are also available on our FakeBags website, very cheap and high quality. However, Gucci’s exotic leather slub bag fetches a premium at auction. The elegant, exotic bamboo handle has been associated with Gucci for over 80 years and serves as a reminder of the brand’s constant innovation and creativity.
