| Gucci is the very embodiment of style and fashion and | | | | of handbags. |
| ever since the first boutique was opened in Rome in | | | | Products from Gucci became a preserve of the rich |
| 1920, the leather goods company made rapid strides. If | | | | and famous and those who were not, but could afford |
| you talk of fashion and a leathery feel, you cannot but | | | | a premier handbag, made a beeline for stores. But the |
| think of the Italian master craftsmen that introduced | | | | success was too good to last. By the late 1970's |
| handbag styling with the bamboo handle in the mid | | | | infighting between family members started taking its |
| 1940's. Fashion in the early decades of the last century | | | | toll. |
| was limited to dresses and shoes while accessories | | | | The company was on the verge of going under due |
| were not given much weight. | | | | to frequent business blunders by the sons as well as |
| Family feuds after Gucci's death | | | | fierce boardroom violence that ended up in throwing of |
| Founded by Guccio Gucci, the famous Gucci web logo | | | | bags and purses at each other. But all through the |
| with stripes and metal came into vogue only during the | | | | family feuds, it was son Aldo who held the reins and |
| 1950's shortly before he died in 1953. Despite having a | | | | contributed much to its success all through. |
| large family, his three sons took over the reins, but it | | | | Perfumery and outsourcing |
| was son Aldo who literally steered the company | | | | He brought in his grandson Uberto to start a |
| toward global recognition by opening the New York | | | | perfumery division which is still a major business |
| boutique. Even though infighting in the family was not | | | | contributor. The year was 1979 and to promote the |
| unknown due to wealth and stock sharing, Gucci | | | | perfumes, leather accessories for storing them were |
| expanded worldwide. | | | | developed by the new company called GAC or Gucci |
| Entering the far eastern markets in the 1960's with a | | | | Perfumes Branch. Pens, cosmetic bags, lighters and |
| boutique store in Hong Kong, the company came out | | | | holders were priced lower than other ranges and Aldo |
| with the famous GG logo that fast caught on among | | | | delegated authority of the perfumes division to his son |
| celebrities. By sixties, Gucci had emerged as not just | | | | Roberto in a bid to wrest control from his brother. |
| another handbag company, but nested firmly in the | | | | The family infighting of the fashion mandarins |
| luxury segment. Soon celebrities from Grace Kelly to | | | | weakened the appeal and by 1980's, the brand was |
| Jackie Kennedy were sporting handbags from the | | | | restricted to airport stores. Fakes appeared in the |
| Gucci stable. | | | | market and members of the family also came out with |
| Consumer products slide up fast on the popularity | | | | cheaper replicas to have a go at each other. Aldo's |
| charts if they are endorsed by the high and mighty. | | | | son Paolo got his father convicted by the IRS and later |
| Gucci had no shortage of well known actors and | | | | Uberto allied with his cousin Maurizio to outsource |
| actress from Hollywood using their now famous range | | | | talent to save the company from ruin. |