Founder of Gucci, Businessman. The son of an Italian merchant, Guccio Gucci left Italy to travel to Paris and London in 1898. Gaining an inspiration and understanding of the cities sophistications and culture, while in London, Gucci worked as the maitre d' at the Savoy Hotel. On his return to Florence, Gucci started to sell saddles and saddlebags, but due to the rise in automobiles, demand for horse products fell, resulting in Gucci branching out into other accessories. In 1921, Guccio Gucci founded a leather goods company and opened a small luggage store in Florence. With the designs featuring inspiration from London and local master craftsmanship from Tuscan artisans, his reputation built quickly. During the 1930s, the labels success continually grew. International clients' would throng to the Florence boutique which now provided bags, trunks, gloves, shoes and belts. With many of his clients' horse-riding aristocrat, a demand for riding gear led Gucci to create the Horsebit icon. The thirties also saw Gucci create the loafer shoe with a gilded snaffle in 1932 and the business expand with a boutique opening in Rome. Rodolfo and Guccio Gucci, Florence store late 1940. Courtesy of Gucci In the forties Gucci experimented with different materials. With a lack of foreign suppliers, Gucci played with hemp, linen and jute. His most notable innovation was burnishing cane to create the handle of the Bamboo Bag, which was inspired by a saddle's shape. Gucci and his wife, Aida Calvelli had raised six children, and upon Gucci's death in 1953, four of his sons; Aldo, Vasco, Ugo and Rodolfo took over the business.
Founder of Gucci, Businessman. The son of an Italian merchant, Guccio Gucci left Italy to travel to Paris and London in 1898. Gaining an inspiration and understanding of the cities sophistications and culture, while in London, Gucci worked as the maitre d' at the Savoy Hotel. On his return to Florence, Gucci started to sell saddles and saddlebags, but due to the rise in automobiles, demand for horse products fell, resulting in Gucci branching out into other accessories. In 1921, Guccio Gucci founded a leather goods company and opened a small luggage store in Florence. With the designs featuring inspiration from London and local master craftsmanship from Tuscan artisans, his reputation built quickly. During the 1930s, the labels success continually grew. International clients' would throng to the Florence boutique which now provided bags, trunks, gloves, shoes and belts. With many of his clients' horse-riding aristocrat, a demand for riding gear led Gucci to create the Horsebit icon. The thirties also saw Gucci create the loafer shoe with a gilded snaffle in 1932 and the business expand with a boutique opening in Rome. Rodolfo and Guccio Gucci, Florence store late 1940. Courtesy of Gucci In the forties Gucci experimented with different materials. With a lack of foreign suppliers, Gucci played with hemp, linen and jute. His most notable innovation was burnishing cane to create the handle of the Bamboo Bag, which was inspired by a saddle's shape. Gucci and his wife, Aida Calvelli had raised six children, and upon Gucci's death in 1953, four of his sons; Aldo, Vasco, Ugo and Rodolfo took over the business.
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