The Gucci “Bamboo” Bag

Post-war Italy was grappling with leather shortages—supplies having been requisitioned by the army for shoulder straps and the like—and export restrictions; yet Italian women had grown weary of ersatz goods and cardboard bags. Faced with mounting demand for quality fashion accessories, the House of Gucci explored new materials and turned to Japanese bamboo, which was not subject to import quotas and could serve as a substitute for leather handles.

The bamboo section is carefully selected for the regularity of its nodes, then steamed, heated, bent, coated with several layers of lacquer to provide its sheen, reheated, and even partially scorched… The manufacturing technique remains exactly the same today.

The twist lock follows quite naturally…

The body of the bag is made of rattan, hemp, or linen—with minimal leather on the sides and edges—or alternatively of wild boar leather, which is very difficult to work with due to the numerous blemishes and scars marking the hide. The interior features a zippered pocket and an open pocket containing a mirror.

Manufacturing the “Bamboo” requires 13 hours of work.

From the moment of its launch, it was so popular that the House of Gucci filed a patent in 1958 to restrict the use of bamboo for handles.

It was worn by the celebrities of the era—led by Grace Kelly, Ingrid Bergman, and Elizabeth Taylor—and made its screen debut in 1954, worn by Vanessa Redgrave in Roberto Rossellini’s film *Journey to Italy*.

Its only change? The addition of a shoulder strap in 1990.

A staple of any vintage wardrobe, the modern “Bamboo” may come in leather, crocodile, ostrich, or monogrammed canvas, and can be embellished with colors, embroidery, or badges; yet the finest version remains the most understated—the one from the 1950s to the 1970s.

Vanessa Redgrave in “Viaggio in Italia” 1954

Queen Paola of Belgium, 1964