By now, the Intrecciato leather weaving technique of Bottega Veneta has become as synonymous with the Italian house as a logo or monogram would be. Dismantling this established signature is a risk not many would dare to take. Yet, under the lead of creative director Matthieu Blazy, it has been done in the most unapologetic of manners. The Intrecciato has often served as grounds for much experimentation in the house. It has been enlarged, minimised, and warped with bolder colours and forms but it has never been done away with entirely. It appears as a regression for Bottega Veneta — why would the house remove a technique it became renowned for?

However, if anything, it is a return to form — to Bottega Veneta’s conception as a leather artisan and an act of veneration for leather unadulterated by technique. The house steps away from its tried-and-tested, putting forth a new kind of classic for Bottega Veneta — unwoven leather. On its new Sawyer bag and redesigned iterations of the Hop and Andiamo, silky calf leather forms a slouched flexible silhouette, while the soft-touch calf is extended to the large Cabat bag. Bottega Veneta continues to display its prowess in its leather artisanship but instead puts forth the quality of its leather in full form — front and centre.

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