Gucci, or the House of Gucci, is a leading brand of fashion and leather goods. Its name is synonymous with style and luxury. It was founded in 1921 by fashion designer Guccio Gucci. Many of his designs are still with the company today, most notably the bamboo handle handbag. He also designed the company’s trademark green and red striped finishing. Gucci has almost 300 stores worldwide and an annual revenue in excess of $2.5 billion. The group has become a major force in the industry by acquiring other brands such as Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney and Yves Saint Laurent. According to ‘Business Week’ magazine Gucci was in 41st position on the 2009 "Top Global 100 Brands". Gucci is also the biggest-selling Italian brand in the world.