Italian luxury house Gucci celebrates its 60 years in Japan with this special exhibition of bags transformed into one-off collectibles by revered Japanese artists and artisans. Photographer Daido Moriyama, ceramicist Hirotsune Nakazato and contemporary painter Yui Yaegashi are among the diverse talents who have turned their hands to reinterpreting the label’s iconic Bamboo 1947 handbag.
This coveted item has a historic connection with Japan, beyond the country long being one of Gucci’s biggest markets. With high-quality materials being difficult to obtain in the years immediately following World War II, Gucci hit upon the idea of using processed Japanese bamboo for bag handles, and what is now known as the Bamboo 1947 bag was born.
For this special art project, a dedicated Gucci archivist selected 60 outstanding vintage examples of the Bamboo 1947, each to be utilised as a ‘base’ for creative remodelling. The results connect the creativity of Japanese artists and craftspeople with the skills of the Italian artisans who originally produced these handbags. For devoted (and wealthy) fashionistas, the exhibited creations are available to purchase.
