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Innovative Bottega Veneta: The Rebirth Continues
By: Godfrey Deeny
Photos courtesy of Bottega Veneta-FWD
Milan, Mar 5, 2001/FWD/ --- The Bottega Veneta renaissance under creative director Tomas Maier
continues in leaps and bounds.
In terms of creativity, innovative approach and impeccable quality, the fall 2002 collection
he showed by appointment in BV’s Milan headquarters this week is extremely fresh and modern.
It’s the successful result of thinking intelligently about contemporary over-achievers’ habits,
and inspiring Bottega Veneta’s famed ateliers to produce some outstanding products.
This season, Maier got his initial "click" of inspiration from a 1966 sketch he came across
in BV archives showing a bag with double pockets.
From that spark, he developed a collection based around the fact that he “loved the idea of
two bags in one, where the two sections are connected, or where a malleable middle becomes
a body," explained Maier.
BV’s outstanding new bag is a vis a vis, a sack in deerskin with purses at either end with
a superb woven leather or Intreciato middle, and a double, accordion-style strap.
The house plans to produce a limited edition of just 500 of these bags, with distribution
limited to its own stores, at $2,550. Get your order in soon, as these will become collector’s
items – rapidly.
Intricate workmanship also is used brilliantly to make woven Russian sable coats, with no
lining and a tiny little leather label, from Maier, an anti-logo designer at heart.
The collection does have a smattering of ready-to-wear, most of them exceptional pieces
like skinny like jeans in python; the same material used in clever double-function clutches.
"I see ready-to-wear more like an accessory. You only need one great accessory to make an
outfit -- why can’t that be a woven leather jean jacket of exotic skin pants?" explains Maier,
who adds that there are no plans to do a runway show.
Apart from some mesh backing, the collection is entirely in natural fabrics and leathers –
Napa, calf, crocodile, baby lamb and pony.
BV remains a great place for boots, showing super Indian suede boots with Intreciato toes,
soft eighties style ones with grommets and accordion leather straps, and print silk leopard
boots with cool twisted leather spike heels.
BV is scheduled to open flagship boutiques featuring its new retail concept in London and
Paris this summer.
Our recommendation is to get there early.
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