At this year's Fourisalone in Milan, Gucci hosted Bamboo Encounters and showcased the brand's history with the material. The tranquil like exhibition took place at Milan's 16th-century Chiostri di San Simpliciano, providing a rich historical backdrop to the contributions. The bamboo handle made its debut with Gucci in 1947 and has since then become a staple of the Gucci design identity. The material has been a symbol of design innovation for generations and this exhibition was a natural extension of the bamboo legacy at the brand, and showcased the material through bold contributions by contemporary designers. 

Some of the most notable pieces in the exhibition are Hybrid Exhalations which fuses bamboo baskets with hand-blown glass additions. The pieces are created by Palestinian artist, researcher, and architect Dima Srouji whose work is rooted in the search for liberation through cultural exploration of public space and ground materials, working closely with artisans of their own craft like archaeologists and glass blowers. The exhibition also features work from Swedish-Chilean artist Anton Alvarez, Dutch design collective Kite Club, Seoul based designer Sisan Lee, and more, all reflecting the expansive design possibilities of bamboo and manipulating the material to create provocative works. Gucci also hosted conversations with the artists and designers, opening up dialogue with the public and creating an immersive, thought-provoking show.