Gucci. Founded 1921. Demna uses the same hardware in 2026.
Gucci was founded in Florence in 1921. The Horsebit came from the stable — equestrian hardware, double ring, straight bar. It appeared on a loafer in 1953. Two years later it moved to a bag. The Horsebit 1955 has been in production, without interruption, ever since. Alessandro Michele reissued it for the 2021 centennial. Demna Gvasalia kept it in the 2026 collection. That's not revival. That's dominance.
The double-ring hardware is called a Horsebit. It comes from equestrian equipment — the metal piece that connects a horse's bit to the reins. Gucci took it from the stable and put it on the shoe. Then the bag. Every version since 1955 has carried the same closure. Green patent leather is a collector variant — limited runs, high gloss.
The vintage 1970s ad shows the bag alongside Gucci loafers and a silk scarf — the full equestrian set. The proportions are identical to the current version. The leather is slightly different. The hardware is the same. Our piece is green patent, silver-tone clasp. W 15.5 × H 11.5 × D 5 cm.
73 years of uninterrupted production. Alessandro Michele kept it. Demna kept it. ↓