In a season of high-profile debuts, Louise Trotter’s arrival at Bottega Veneta is among the most anticipated. Not only because she now leads one of the most iconic maisons in Italian luxury, but also because she follows Matthieu Blazy, whose recent tenure both consolidated and modernised the brand’s identity by bridging past and future. Fittingly, Trotter’s journey at Bottega Veneta begins with leather and the archives. The first woman to take on the brand’s creative direction, she has chosen to immerse herself in its soul by engaging with its most emblematic material: leather. Her debut collection remains under wraps, but in an interview with Vogue Business, Trotter hinted at a delicate reinterpretation — one that is faithful to the house’s legacy, free of ruptures.
Trotter’s journey at Bottega
To truly grasp the spirit of Bottega Veneta, Louise Trotter began her journey in the maison’s historic heart: Montebello Vicentino. Surrounded by artisans and archives, she embarked on a process of quiet, respectful immersion. “I looked at pieces from decades ago and still wanted them”, she says — a sign, for her, that the brand’s identity is solid, alive, and timeless. Her approach is clear: to learn before transforming, to observe before intervening. Trotter describes a dialogue between established systems and personal interventions, where each change stems from deep understanding. She builds on the past without being bound by it — a balance that may well define her creative direction.
Leather as an extension of the body
Then there’s leather — for Bottega Veneta, never merely a material but a language, most famously expressed through its diagonal intrecciato weave. This iconic motif, designed to soften the silhouette, will remain central to Trotter’s vision. Yet she also hints at a new perspective on accessories: bags should feel “like an extension of the person”. Leather, then, is no longer simply about structure or embellishment, but movement, sensation, intimacy. Trotter’s era at Bottega Veneta unofficially began in late May, when the brand celebrated 50 years of intrecciato with its campaign Craft is Our Language. Centred on hands and artisanal gestures — the true protagonists of the creative process — the project featured images and videos of brand ambassadors and friends of the house, exploring the universal value of handcraft and the woven motif itself.
Photos: Kering and Bottega Veneta
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