Among Gucci’s most coveted bags are the Bamboo (1947), the Horsebit (1955) and the Jackie (1961). Alongside other modern creations — such as the Dionysus (2015) and the Marmont (2016) — these designs reflect the house’s heritage of craftsmanship and innovation.
It was this innovation which led to the Gucci Bamboo, where a curved bamboo handle was created due to a shortage of leather following World War II. Bamboo has since become a design signature of Gucci accessories, including the bamboo-handled tote, the Diana bag.
The Gucci Horsebit followed in 1955, inspired by the house’s equestrian heritage. The design featured the signature double ring and bar hardware — the horesbit — which was originally used on a pair of Gucci loafers in 1953. Further influenced by equestrian design, many versions of the Horsebit integrate the green and red stripes found on the girth straps of a horse’s saddle.
The crescent-shaped Jackie Bag was then released in 1961, with this classic hobo-style silhouette utilising a piston-shaped closure. Originally called the Fifties Constance, the Gucci family changed the bag’s name to The Jackie after Jackie Kennedy was photographed with it.
In the 1960s, Guccio’s son — Aldo Gucci — began using the interlocking double-G monogram, which now features on many of the brand’s bags, including the Ophidia collection. The house’s bags have become symbols of timeless style and luxury, coveted for their iconic details, Italian craftsmanship and eye-catching designs.