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Artisanal craftsmanship meets the most elegant of materials in this updated take on a classic bag

In 1947, inspired by the sturdiness of Guccio Gucci’s walking cane, the brand made their first Bamboo bag. With a handle made from bamboo softened over fire, shaped and lacquered to a radiant finish, the silhouette quickly became one of Gucci’s most beloved silhouettes. Bamboo, of course, is one of the strongest naturally occurring materials, with a tensile strength stronger than that of steel. In the pre-industrial era, entire houses were built of bamboo, and as a renewable, carbon-absorbing plant, it is becoming an increasingly attractive building material. Lauding its sturdiness and natural, haptic look, architects like Shigeru Ban have constructed many remarkable buildings purely from bamboo, echoed in the sculptural forms that frame the Bamboo 1947 models here. Rightfully taking pride of place in Gucci’s spring/summer 2025 womenswear collection, the silhouette of the Bamboo bag remains unchanged, a lasting symbol of the strength and elegance of this remarkable material. Matteo Pini