Gucci and Christie’s: A One-of-a-Kind Match

It was a mix of two pleasures that drew the fashion crowd into Gucci‘s Madison Avenue store last night; the combined launch of Gucci’s made-to-order Bamboo bag and a preview of works that will be up for auction March 10 at Christie’s Contemporary Art Sale. The store was filled with a mix of art, cocktails and luxurious leather goods with guests enjoying the teeniest of hor d’oeuvres. A Mark Rothko was perched between vintage Gucci handbags, and a whole wall was dedicated to the classic bamboo Gucci bag. The bag is available in three sizes, and is now available made to order in any color, texture and finish (be that plain or patent) crocodile leather that you so desire. You can also choose your own hardware and have your initial’s hand stamped on the inside of the bag. With the largest bag starting at $17,000, one of the extra-special touches is a letter from creative director Frida Giannini herself half way through the process. The bamboo used to make the handle is shaped over fire, which gives it that delicious burnished finish, and was first used in World War II when other more luxurious materials were harder to find. And as necessity is the mother of invention, so the classic handle was made. Although it was hard trying to keep my distance from stunning artworks that I couldn’t afford–the pieces start at $60,000–it was harder still to stop envisioning myself with my own made-to-order black patent croc bamboo bag with gold hardware. Gucci: You’re on my christmas list. Photos by Neil Rasmus/Billy Farrell Agency.