Gucci

The tale of the Gucci brand is a story of an epic rise and fall. The company was founded by an Italian leather goods manufacturer named Guccio Gucci. After burnishing his credentials by working in his family's leather goods store, Gucci opened his own business in Rome in the late 1930s. His designs met with popular approval. His bamboo handbag, which he designed in 1947, earned the Gucci label great respect among the fashionistas.In the 1950s, the company grew by leaps and bounds and introduced a number of now classic handbags and accessories, such as the suede moccasin and saddle girth bags. The company's heyday came in the 1960s and '70s, when fashion icons like Jackie Onassis and Audrey Hepburn wore Gucci clothing prominently. Actress, and later Princess, Grace Kelly also helped popularize Gucci by wearing the company's flora scarf.Today, despite some internal issues, Gucci continues to reign as one of the leaders of fashion throughout the world. From their innovative shoe designs to their fantastic clothing lines and breathtaking handbags, there are few areas of fashion that Gucci does not excel in. Gucci is perhaps best known for their amazing handbags, marked by their distinctive 'G' insignia. However, like all haute couture, Gucci does not come cheap. Most Gucci handbags cost thousands of dollars.