“On a recent trip to Hong Kong for Art Basel, I was introduced to the concept of bamboo scaffolding. It may sound whimsical – visually, it certainly is – but despite its delicate appearance, the ancient technique has long been the backbone of construction across Asia. Entire skylines have risen on its flexible strength – but bamboo also holds a storied past in the legacy of Gucci, the iconic fashion house.  The House’s relationship with bamboo began almost eight decades ago with the creation of the ‘Gucci Bamboo 1947’ bag, a piece which has remained an enduring symbol of the House. Its defining feature, a bamboo handle, is a charming reference to the bamboo walking sticks once favoured by Guccio Gucci’s son. Gucci recently explored its connection to the material in the Shanghai exhibition ‘Bamboo: Decoding an Icon’. Now, during Milan Design Week, the dialogue continues with ‘Gucci: Bamboo Encounters’. Held at the serene Chiostri di San Simpliciano, the exhibition brings together a gr...