Fashion & Murder Plots: Gucci History

These days the power of the Gucci name in fashion is matched only by Louis Vuitton. Gucci’s purse lines have exploded in popularity over the last few years. So what do you really know about Gucci? I mean, besides the fact that you’d look hot in Gucci shoes?

Gucci Lures Us To Italian Fashion

The Italian word for fashion is probably la moda…or something like that, but it may as well be Gucci. Founded in Florence in 1921 by a Mr. Guccio Gucci, the House of Gucci is built on an elite foundation, more storied, and more coveted than any brand in the world. You have to wonder if Italian style, and more specifically, Italian leather would have such a reputation if it weren’t for Gucci.

Gucci’s designs were unique, and his most ingenious creations are still recreated today. Each year millions of Gucci purses go out into the world with the hallmark Gucci green/red web detail, the brown GG canvas, and the famed bamboo handles.

The Gucci Web Tote Bag. A fashion icon..

Origins of Gucci Bags

Where these ideas originated is super interesting. It’s funny how few people know (and you should know if you’re going to really own it when you’re strutting your Gucci replica bag around!) that Gucci’s original inspiration was the equestrian apparel of the British nobility. While on a trip to find his fashion edge, Guccio was so taken by the British style (maybe the only time in history this has happened!) that he based his entire company on it. Hence the three striped web, the soft brown GG canvas and the dark chocolate leather trim. Also the horse bit pattern is an obvious nod to the polo playing British Sirs and Dukes.

The bamboo handles actually came as a result of a shortage of leather during World War II. Gucci came up with the idea to use bamboo from China as a replacement. This good business move became one of their best fashion moves as well. The bamboo handles are one of Gucci’s most celebrated looks to this day.

Gucci Family Feuds

Back in the days when Gucci was a private company, still in the family, people also tended to wonder whether it was the luxury goods the Guccis produced or the in-fighting among them that brought them more fame. Along with Italy’s most fashionable leather goods, Mr. Gucci brought into the world several feuding sons (who also brought their own feuding sons into the mix), who after his death, nearly drove his precious business into the ground—or to the bottom of the Mediterranean. Most famously, the murder of Gucci son Maurizio, hit the tabloids like a UFO when it was uncovered that a hit man was hired by Gucci’s own wife to do the killing. Thereby nicknamed “The Black Widow” Patrizia Reggiani Gucci was brought to trial along with her chauffeur for the murder. Currently a film about it is in the works starring Angelina Jolie as the Murderess.

Thankfully for us, and for the Gucci legacy, some genius money movers devised a plan to whisk Gucci out of the dark days of the 80’s and into the 90’s as one of the most successful companies in the world, again. The company went public in the fall of 1995. And that, much to the chagrin of the gossip columnists, and to the delight of replica Gucci bags vendors, spelled the end of the tumult that was the brawling Gucci family’s reign of power. These days, Gucci’s hold on the fashion world feels unbreakable.

Sexy Gucci bags were brought up to date in the 90's.

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