Gucci Celebrates Bamboo’s Enduring Influence in Milan, April 8-13, 2025

Gucci is bringing something truly special to Milan’s 16th-century Chiostri di San Simpliciano this April. The exhibition, Gucci | Bamboo Encounters, is a celebration of bamboo’s long-standing presence in the brand’s history. Curated by Ippolito Pestellini Laparelli and 2050+, it explores how this simple material has been woven into Gucci’s design DNA, starting with the iconic bamboo-handled bags of the 1940s.

Running from April 8-13, 2025, the exhibition is a journey through the many ways bamboo has been reimagined by contemporary designers. It's not just about design—it's about the connection between art, culture, and craftsmanship. Artists like Anton Alvarez, Dima Srouji, and Laurids Gallée offer fresh takes on bamboo, with pieces that feel at once traditional and modern. Alvarez, for instance, pays tribute to bamboo’s natural curves in his sculptural work, while Srouji combines bamboo with glass in a way that feels both organic and experimental.

The exhibition also features a light installation by Eugenio Rossi and Yaazd Contractor that highlights bamboo’s versatility and beauty in a more abstract form. Other pieces, like the kites by Kite Club and the silk and bamboo panels by Nathalie Du Pasquier, push the material into new, unexpected territory.

Throughout the week, there will also be talks where designers and creatives share their perspectives on bamboo, how it has influenced their work, and how it continues to inspire. It’s an event that’s as much about the future as it is about honoring the past, reflecting on how something so simple can remain so relevant over time.

By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Gucci