Alessandro Michele’s vision for Gucci is easily recognisable. Since Michele’s appointment in 2015, maximalism has become one of the house’s defining features, with his interpretation comprising clashing colours, exaggerated motifs and dramatic Renaissance flair.
Today, the Gucci spirit is one that is non-conformist, romantic and intellectual, as seen in the maison’s latest Exquisite Gucci collection. Presented within a mirrored box at the Gucci Hub in Milan, the Exquisite Gucci show used refractive panels and coloured beams to foreshadow the house’s line-up. This ranged from classic power suits in metallic hues and cropped blazers to reflective sequinned jackets. Dramatic feather coats, saccharine dresses and peasant-sleeved blouses were also thrown in the mix, mirroring the “phantasmagorical power of fashion” as expressed by Michele.
Tying the Exquisite Gucci collection together was the connection between mirrors and style, a keen observation by Michele of how both elements depict reality and self-expression: “Clothes are capable of reflecting our image in an expanded and transfigured dimension. Wearing them means to cross a transformative threshold where we become something else.” Throughout history, mirrors were made to transport one into another reality à la the Wunderkammer—a repository of storied artefacts and hanging mirrors that first appeared in 16th-century Europe. As such, the same can be said of the wonders of the Exquisite Gucci collection, in particular, the Gucci Bamboo 1947 bag.
An archival piece
Proving itself to be just as showstopping as the clothes from Exquisite Gucci, the subtle yet high-impact design of the Gucci Bamboo 1947 bag ticks all the boxes for the Gucci lover and collector. The bag is part of the Gucci Beloved line-up, which comprises a range of bag styles that incorporate the house’s signature symbols. Created two years after the end of the Second World War, the Gucci Bamboo 1947 bag has been renewed with a contemporary twist. This time, it takes on a more experimental design with a disruptive, silver-studded pattern dotted across its body.
A new era
For the maximalists at heart, the studded Gucci Bamboo 1947’s edgy iterations are in tune with the house’s penchant for unique accessories. The new-generation bag comes packaged in bright orange, marigold yellow, pink, azure and bright green for its small and mini sizes.
For those who prefer quiet, understated pieces, the white leather and black patent leather versions, available in medium, small and mini sizes, are timeless picks for the wardrobe. In addition, the crocodile and python iterations elevate the collection altogether.
Handle it
The Gucci Bamboo 1947’s versatile silhouette allows room for exploration by way of its interchangeable straps, which come in a monochromatic leather version and a sporty Web canvas option in Gucci’s signature red and green colourway. Its fluid design also allows the modern wearer to either sling it over their shoulders or carry it by its top handle.
Artisanal flair
Fusing style and substance, the bag’s artisanal quality is reflective of the maison’s attention to detail. Its smooth and detailed graining, which is visible in the studded bag’s cuir leather, is also a testament to the many skilled hands behind the Gucci Bamboo 1947 bag’s form. The emblematic top handle and closure are steeped in history, too. Made from bamboo imported from Japan, every piece is hand-picked according to specific Gucci design standards.
This involves a laborious process of sanding, shaping and finishing done by Florentine artists—which means that each bag is attended to with the utmost care. The handles are then lacquered and toasted before they appear as the twist-locks and curved handles that we see on the Gucci Bamboo 1947 bag.
From its distinguishable silhouette to its exceptional details, the studded Gucci Bamboo 1947 bag is the ideal accessory for the modern wearer who yearns for only the best in sartorial experimentation and quality. As Michele puts it: “Through these inventions, celebrate them all like real optical labs and give birth to metamorphosis and re-enchantment.”
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