Born in 1881, craftsman's son Guccio Gucci started out as a saddlery shop in Florence in 1906. He started out selling leather bags to horsemen in the 1920s and graduated to luxury luggage as his clients moved to horseless carriages. In 1938, Gucci opened his first retail shop on the Via Condotti in Rome.

In 1947 the immediately recognisable Gucci icon, the leather bag with bamboo handle, is created. During the 1950s the red striped webbing is introduced taken from its original place on a saddle girth.

After Guccio's death in 1953, his family was able to take the enormously successful company to new heights by opening stores in Paris, Beverley Hills, London, Palm Beach and Tokyo. Hollywood stars such as Audrey Hepburn, Peter Sellers and Grace Kelly made the Gucci name synonymous with "chic". Jackie Kennedy was photographed with the Gucci shoulder bag which became known as the "Jackie O".

With fame and recognition came some turmoil. Management and inner family disagreed. Maurizio Gucci took over an ailing business from his brother and then sold it to an Arab concern in the 80s.

In the 1990s Tom Ford, the new executive head, has brought Gucci back to the center of chic with a varied line of products including leather fashions, perfumes, colognes, cosmetics, shoes, suitcases, watches, jewellery, silk scarves, sports articles, belt clasps, ties and eyeglasses.