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Revision as of 05:03, 20 July 2004 by RickK (talk | contribs) (move worked-on page here)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Gucci, or the House of Gucci, is an Italian haute couture establishment. It was founded by Guccio Gucci (1881-1953) in Florence in 1921.
Guccio Gucci was the son of a leather craftsman. As a young man, he travelled to Paris and then London, where he "gained an appreciation of cosmopolitan culture, sophistication, and aesthetics". At age 39, he returned to his hometown of Florence in 1920 and in the following year, he opened the first Gucci shop, a small luggage and saddlery company. He sold exclusive leather goods created and produced by the best craftsmen he could hire. Within a few years, the small Florence shop grew and attracted a wide clientele base. In 1938, Gucci expanded and a branch was opened in Rome.
In 1947, Gucci introduced the "bamboo handle handbag", which later became one of the company's icon products. During the 1950's, the trademark striped webbing, which was derived from the saddle girth, became very popular. Another icon product, the moccasin with a metal bit was also introduced during this time. With the help of his sons - Aldo, Ugo, Vasco and Rodolfo - the company expanded rapidly. New Gucci outlets in Rome and Milan were opened, boosting business and further promoting the Gucci brand.
While the company was enjoying its great successes, Guccio Gucci passed away in 1953, leaving it in the hands of Rodolfo Gucci and his brothers. The company steadily grew and became a international force in the fashion industry, and with operations in London, Paris, New York, and Palm Beach. At the end of the 1960s, the company adopted the GG logo (the founder's initials) and targetted the Far East for further expansion, with stores opening in Hong Kong and Tokyo. The 'Flora' silk scarf worn by Hollywood actress Grace Kelly, and the Jackie O shoulder bag used by Jackie Kennedy, the wife of a U.S. President, became wildly popular icon products around the world.
By the 1980s, business leadership of the company eventually passed on to Rodolfo's son, Maurizio Gucci, but most of his cousins have already left. In 1993, the company was sold to Investcorp, a Bahrain-based investment company, and was renamed "Gucci Group NV". One of the firm's designers, Tom Ford was appointed Creative Director. Gucci eventually became a publicly traded company in 1995, listing on the New York and Amsterdam stock exchanges.
Gucci has continued to prosper as an influential fashion house and a highly profitable business operation. The Gucci brand is considered one of the most frequently mentioned brands. The firm was named "European Company of the Year 1998" by the European Business Press Federation for its economic and financial performance, strategic vision as well as management quality.
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