Top 5 Vintage Gucci Bags

While leather is the predominant material in Gucci bags, shortages during World War II resulted in vintage bags created from canvas, linen, and other materials. The sourcing issues that Gucci designers faced during and in the years immediately following inspired new techniques in the Gucci line, including the use of canvas, bamboo, and linen. Designers later branched out to include exotic leathers, prints, and other riskier and trendier elements in their vintage and modern classics.

Top Varieties of Vintage Gucci Bags
A famous global fashion line featuring clothing, shoes, and accessories, Gucci began as a luggage design house, and bags are a mainstay in the Gucci collection. Vintage bags in a wide variety of designs make the resale market, but a handful of vintage design categories catch the attention of discerning collectors and buyers.

1 The Stirrup Bag
An iconic Gucci design first introduced in 1975, the Stirrup Bag is a classic handbag in the shape of a stirrup. It features short handles, an angular design, and a prominent buckle down the center. Not to be confused with the "new classic" Stirrup bag, redesigned and relaunched for a new generation by Gucci in 2013, vintage Stirrup bags often feature softer leather and a more relaxed or slouched appearance.

2 The Canapa Bag
Material scarcity in World War II Europe led to the development of one of Gucci's most recognizable vintage designs: the canapa bag. Created in 1935 from Tuscan hemp, these were the first canvas bags in the Gucci line. Early canapa bags were totes, carry-alls, or duffels, but other vintage bags in this style include handbags, shoulder bags, and satchels for men and women.

3 The Bamboo Bag
In the post-World War II economy, where some supplies remained scarce, Gucci designers took advantage of newly opened avenues for sourcing exotic materials, including bamboo. Introduced in 1947, these bags feature heat-treated bamboo handles. An immediate hit, further popularized in the 1950's by Hollywood stars, bamboo bags are among the most common vintage Gucci designs on the market and include handbags, duffels, and satchels, among others.

4 The Jackie Bag
The Gucci shoulder bag, produced in the early 1960's, was a favorite of then-First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy. Renamed the Jackie O by Gucci in her honor, this fashionable, functional shoulder bag is available in vintage and contemporary varieties. Gucci relaunched the style in 1999, commonly sporting the title, "New Jackie."

5 Interlocking Double-G Diamond Bags
Expanding on the diamond pattern first introduced in the 1930's, Gucci launched bags with an interlocking, double-G diamond print pattern in the mid-1960's. This iconic branding, common in many contemporary and historic bags, is one of the most recognizable Gucci trademarks. The conservative, classic appearance of these bags weathers all fashion trends, with totes, carry-alls, shoulder bags, and handbags, all featuring the iconic insignia.