History of Gucci

 Gucci began as a saddlery shop in 1906 by Guccio Gucci. Gucci added leather bags in the 1920s and luxury luggage in the 1930s. In 1938, Gucci opened its first retail shop in Rome. The Gucci icon, the leather bag with bamboo handle, was created in 1947. The 1950s saw the introduction of the trademark red striped webbing, which became an emblem for the company. The 1950s was the era during which most of the classic Gucci items were created such as luggage, ties, shoes, and handbags.

 After Guccio Gucci's death in 1953, his family opened stores across the world, from Paris to Tokyo. In the 1960s, Gucci became even more popular as Hollywood stars such as Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn began to be seen with Gucci products. Jackie Kennedy specifically helped the Gucci company's rise to fashion stardom by being photographed with a Gucci shoulder bag, now known as the "Jackie O" bag.

 The 1970s and 80s were tumultuous times for the Gucci brand. During this time, management and the family had frequent disagreements, sometimes turning physical. The inner struggle began to take its toll on the company. A series of bad business decisions led the company to the brink of bankruptcy. However, in the 1990s, Gucci found its footing with new executive head, Tom Ford. Ford returned the Gucci name to the top of fashion's must-have list with a variety of products, including perfumes, cosmetics, leather, shoes, scarves, and other accessories. In October 1995, Gucci went public with a $22 share. By 1998, Gucci was named European Company of the Year.

 Today, Gucci generates $8 billion in revenue and is listed at the 45th position in Business Week's annual brands chart. Gucci has 425 stores across the world and is the biggest-selling Italian brand in the world. The House of Gucci is one of the most prestigious and iconic luxury fashion brands in the world.