New Creative Director Louise Trotter’s Bottega Veneta debut honours the brand’s heritage with Intrecciato craftsmanship
The inspiration behind this collection draws from the distinctive essence of three cities: the luxury and poetry of Venice, the dynamism and energy of New York, and the minimalist rationalism of Milan. These influences intertwine to sketch Bottega Veneta’s origins and its path of evolution, while paying tribute to the legacy of the brand’s first female creative director, Laura Braggion, whose leadership shaped its growth from the 1980s into the early 2000s.
The collection embraces the romance of the creative process itself, placing emphasis on meticulous craftsmanship and the refinement of every detail. Lightweight, summer-tailored fabrics are used to highlight a balance between structure and fluidity, underscoring an artisanal dedication that anchors the brand’s DNA.
From soft nappa leather trench coats to elegant evening gowns lined with cotton, each piece fuses the rigour of traditional menswear tailoring with a sense of ease, resulting in a distinctly modern character. Both menswear and womenswear are handcrafted in Italian tailoring ateliers, with the same meticulous attention to detail, practical functionality, and refined cuts throughout.
Exaggerated shoulder lines and relaxed silhouettes strike a balance between nonchalance and sophistication. Formal staples such as suits and shirts are executed with classic Italian sartorial precision, yet retain a sense of fluid adaptability. Contrasting textures of fringe add movement to sharp proportions, infusing the looks with a dynamic vitality, while slipping shoulder straps and asymmetrically draped sweaters bring a rebellious, lived-in energy to the collection. Paired with natural tones, the result is a unique aesthetic that is at once structured and free-spirited.
Louise Trotter regards the Intrecciato weave as Bottega Veneta’s core design language. She notes: “The language of Bottega Veneta is Intrecciato. And it is a metaphor. It is two different strips woven together that become stronger – the two things make a stronger whole. Collaboration and connectivity run throughout this house and its history”.
This iconic weaving technique, pioneered by co-founder Renzo Zengiaro, runs throughout the collection—extending beyond handbags to garments, from luxury pieces to the everyday, showcasing a complete design evolution. Classic 9mm and 12mm strips of supple leather are reinterpreted with a contemporary aesthetic. Intrecciato not only defines the season’s bags but also finds its way into clothing, reaffirming the house’s uncompromising commitment to craft.
The fluid motion of fringe detailing contrasts with sharp proportions, adding layers of dynamism and movement to the silhouettes. Bag designs this season carry deep historical resonance: the Lauren returns in new proportions; the Knot adopts a softer structure; and the Cabat is transformed into a triangular clutch, mirroring the exaggerated shoulders of the clothing.
New introductions include the Squash bag, an elongated Framed Tote, and the Crafty Basket—an intricate showcase of weaving mastery. These design details, paired with a palette of natural tones, create a style that feels both structured and liberated, fusing heritage craftsmanship with forward-looking innovation.
In 2026, marking the 60th anniversary of Bottega Veneta, Louise Trotter invited British artist and Oscar-winning director Steve McQueen to create an exclusive composition for the runway, titled ’66 – ’76. The audio piece is built upon Nina Simone and David Bowie’s respective renditions of “Wild Is the Wind”, reimagined by McQueen into a “duet” that resonates like an aural interpretation of the house’s Intrecciato weave. “These are two voices that are utterly different yet complementary, interlacing to form something new,” McQueen explained. “It perfectly echoes the brand’s design philosophy.” The work infused the show with profound artistic depth, heightening the themes of fusion and innovation while offering the audience an immersive experience that spanned both sight and sound.
The 2026 Spring/Summer show also drew a stellar guest list of brand ambassadors and friends. Among them were RM of BTS, I.N of Stray Kids, Taiwanese actor Yo Yang, Hong Kong’s Terrance Lau, and Thai star Jirawat Sutivanichsak. They were joined by Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh, Julianne Moore, Kill Bill legend Uma Thurman, Sooin from K-pop group MEOVV, and breakout Adolescence actor Owen Cooper.
Image Courtesy of Bottega Veneta
