Guccio Gucci founded the handbag brand Gucci in Florence in 1921.
Gucci began when Guccio Gucci opened a leather-goods and luggage shop on Florence’s Via Vigna Nuova. His earlier work in London hotels exposed him to the refined luggage of wealthy travelers, influencing the brand’s early focus on leather travel goods and handbags.
The company later became known for distinctive house codes, including the green-red-green Web stripe, the interlocking GG logo, bamboo handles, and the horse-bit motif. These features helped Gucci expand from a Florentine leather workshop into an international luxury house.
A common mix-up is confusing Gucci’s founding date with the dates of later signature products. The Bamboo bag appeared in 1947, while the Jackie bag developed its identity decades later. The 1921 date refers to the founding of the Gucci company itself, not to a particular handbag design.