Gucci’s creative director Alessandro Michele celebrates the brand’s iconic bamboo handle — first surfaced in post-war 1947 — by tacking it onto this season’s quaint, ornamental beauties. The style hasn’t changed since 1947, so structured top handle bag in glossy leather (black, red or white) is enriched with a gold printed frame with an intricately braided pattern. The iconic bamboo handle is juxtaposed with the symbol of a roaring feline head, painted with colored enamel and encrusted with sparkling crystals and two stones at the eyes.
The detachable chain strap allows the style to be worn as a shoulder bag.
And inside, there’s surprase! Each handbag will come with a small, pocket-sized book featuring a unique printed cover inspired by the collection. This detail dates back to the beginning of the century, when women often carried books in their handbags to read on public transportation to deter any unwanted suitors.
The book – “Juvenilia” is a compilation of short stories written by English writer Jane Austen during her teenage years from 1787-1793, a time during which she was free from censorship or societal pressure. The creative chaos and the continuous contradictions which characterize the stories are the same pillars we witness in Gucci’s collections.