For her opening gambit at Bottega Veneta, creative director Louise Trotter approaches the house’s signature intrecciato weave not only as a technique but a philosophy
Intrecciato – which, no prizes for guessing, literally translates as woven – is a Bottega Veneta signature – the intertwining of multiple ribbons of nappa leather, like fine strips of fettuccine. It creates a surface tension that remains supple and pliant, yet with a new suspensive strength given it’s actually twice the leather that would otherwise be used (which also, of course, makes it twice as expensive). It was introduced by the brand in the late 1960s – incidentally, Bottega Veneta was founded in 1966, and is kicking off its 60th anniversary celebration this Spring/Summer season – and was the cornerstone of new creative director Louise Trotter’s opening gambit for the label in Milan last month. She approached the intrecciato not just as a literal technique, but as a philosophy. “It is a metaphor,” she said, at that show. “Different places, different people, male and female – individual parts and stories intertwined to make a stronger whole.” It’s also pretty much timeless – a Bottega bag from decades ago still looks great today (as if to prove the point, the house re-released Lauren Hutton’s clutch bag from 1980’s American Gigolo, which looks as right now as then. Which is to say that their Andiamo clutch will probably still be alive and kicking, both in quality and style, come 2086.
The Bottega Veneta Andiamo Clutch is available now.
