"When your own initials are enough". A slogan that underlines the value of magnificent Italian craftsmanship and quite luxury. The slogan that has given Bottega Veneta an identity that is still true today, paying tribute to the meticulous handwork of numerous artisans without feeling obliged to print the logo of one of the most prestigious fashion houses of our time on its pieces. The Intrecciato - Bottega's distinctive weaving technique - has become the epitome of the eminent Italian fashion label, illustrating that high-end fashion isn't about selling a name, but about creating innovative and unmistakable designs that are marked by expertise and artistry.

Bottega Veneta was founded in 1966 in Vicenza, Italy, a city in the Veneto region renowned for its knowledge and heritage of traditional craftsmanship. However, when Bottega started its production, the brand faced a technical problem that ended up being one of the company's greatest successes. Originally, the Veneto region produced mainly ready-to-wear garments, so the sewing machines in the workshops weren't designed to work with leather, but with fabric. Thus, the Italian fashion label had to be creative and innovative by using very thin leather and weaving it diagonally to support its stability. This is how Bottega Veneta invented its very own weaving technique - the Intrecciato. This technique has another advantage: durability. As the Intrecciato allows the bag to "move", the structure of the bag doesn't crack and doesn't wear as much as other bags made of ordinary leather. The Intrecciato is therefore not only a symbol of true craftsmanship - some Bottega designs require up to 15 years of experience to create them - but also a manifesto of longevity and functionality.

The Intrecciato made its Hollywood debut in 1980, when Lauren Hutton wore a dark brown Bottega clutch in the film American Gigolo, bringing a new kind of attention to the unique weaving technique. In 2018, the Italian fashion house commemorated this iconic moment by making Hutton one of its catwalk models, carrying the same bag as then. Andy Warhol was also a true Bottega enthusiast, helping the brand to become a household name and making the Intrecciatio more famous.

Since its inception, the Intrecciato has been reinterpreted over and over again, giving rise to various designs that have brought Bottega Venta enormous success. When Thomas Maier took over as head designer in 2001, he created the Cabat. A classic tote bag woven entirely in the house's famous weaving technique, its simplicity striking. He also redesigned Bottega's Knot Box clutch, which actually dates back to 1978.
After Maier's triumphant period, which saw the fashion label achieve immense success, he was replaced by Daniel Lee in 2018. With Vogue dubbing him "the quiet radical" and Harper's Bazaar calling him "the new fashion prodigy", it seems obvious that his three years at the Italian fashion house have been marked by success. Indeed, it was he who ushered in a new era for the traditional fashion house, marked by new silhouettes, vibrant colors and new materials that made Bottega more appealing to a younger audience. His first design, the Pouch - also available in the Intrecciato, of course - was unveiled at the brand's S/S 19 presentation. Since then, the bag, which looks like a giant dumpling, has captivated the fashion world and become the company's most successful design. Then, for the pre-fall 2019 collection, Lee landed his next hit with the Cassette - a crossbody bag characterized by a giant woven design. The following season (F/W 19), the designer took another bold step by creating a padded version of his recent success. Finally, there's one Lee bag that's impossible to forget. When the Jodie was originally launched in 2020, it didn't have a name. But after Jodie Foster was spotted carrying the distinctive bag - available only in the Intrecciato, but in a variety of sizes and colors - its name was set.
In 2021, Matthieu Blazy became Bottega Venetta's new head designer, and he's already proven that he won't dissapoint when it comes to reinterpreting the house's stylistic code. In fall 2022, the designer presented his first collection for the Italian label, including the Sardine. A bag featuring the Italian label's traditional Intrecciato and a golden handle that looks like, yes, a sardine. The following year, Blaze designed the distinctive Andiamo tote, which is assembled with a gold-plated metal knot, underlining the brand's love of craftsmanship and timeless, quiet elegance.
Over the years, Bottega has reinvented its famous Intrecciato over and over again, creating its own stylistic identity. Today, Bottega offers a wide range of fashion items woven in its distinctive technique or with its unmistakable structure: bags, belts, wallets, shoes, lamps, etc. - The list is endless.

Bottega Veneta has shown how to build a successful high-end fashion label by creating and fully embracing its own identity. The Intrecciato, originally created out of necessity, has become the brand's most distinctive stylistic code and represents the house like nothing else. Besides, Bottega's head designers have shown how a traditional design can be reinterpreted and combined with creativity and innovation. At the same time, Bottega has always placed the craftsmanship and expertise of its artisans at the heart of its designs, underlining the appeal of timeless elegance and quiet luxury. In order to preserve its remarkable craftsmanship, the Italian fashion house has created its "Labor et Ingenium" workshop, which promotes the artistry and meticulous craftsmanship behind its designs and passes them on to younger generations, while at the same time supporting the artistic development and creativity of its employees. Marco Bizzari, President and CEO of Bottega from 2005 to 2009, describes the value of craftsmanship to the fashion house like this: "The made in Veneto isn't a label. It is a historic knowledge that has been passed generations after generations", underlining that luxury brand pieces aren't about buying a certain name, but about the history and meticulous work behind the design.