Gucci

Gucci Bamboo: Behind the Scenes

The 90-year legacy of Gucci is filled with a classic sensibility from the early 1920s, and the focus of the brand has always surrounded the master craftsmanship of Tuscan artisans. Gucci prides itself in crafting luxury pieces, and the focus now goes back to the Bamboo line, which dates back to the 1940s. We already shared the history of the Gucci Bamboo bags, and now we have the pleasure of sharing how they’re made.

When I see designer bags freshly unpacked, sitting on store shelves, waiting to be bought, I sometimes forget the lengths to which craftsman and artisans go to create them. A dream came true for me over the summer when Vlad and I had the pleasure to spend the day in the Gucci factory outside of Florence, watching the craftsmen meticulously create the bamboo handles we see on some of the most coveted and iconic bags in history, the Gucci Bamboo bags.

Gucci Bamboo: Behind the Scenes (3)

The process begins by finding the right pieces of bamboo, which is no easy task. Gucci artisans meticulously choose the most unblemished portions, and once they are deemed fit for production, the next step is bending the bamboo.

The specially trained artisan molds the bamboo over fire to turn the handle into the proper shape. Over the open flame, as the bamboo heats up it softens and allows the bending to happen. This takes a few minutes as the artisan continuously works the bamboo over the open flame, manipulating the bamboo to perfection.

After the bamboo has been molded, it enters the lacquering stage. Each piece has a layer of lacquer brushed over it to make it more durable and give the glossy finish. Fun fact: the lacquer used in this process comes from an insect.

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Once the bamboo has been lacquered, the artisan moves over to the next station, where he toasts the handles to give the perfect golden-brown finish. No bamboo piece will be exactly the same as any other piece; they’re all created by hand, using a decades-old artistic process.

After these steps, the bamboo is ready to be added to the bag. The molded, toasted, and lacquered handle is mounted to the hardware which is then placed on the bag. The finished product is a true brand icon with very special history, a meticulous creative process and which leaves you with an innovative and distinctive design.

Shop Gucci Bamboo via Gucci.com.

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