Latest news with #LouiseTrotter
Vogue
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Vogue
How Louise Trotter Is Bringing Her Rebellious Joy To Bottega Veneta
The location of my first meeting with Louise Trotter, the new creative director of Bottega Veneta, is confirmed just an hour before we're due to meet. It feels fitting: Bottega Veneta has long been known for a kind of elegant restraint, and until very recently Trotter has been deliberately private about her debut collection, keeping even her process closely guarded. The address finally arrives: Villa Clerici, an aristocratic mansion nestled in the Niguarda district of Milan, north of the city. Once you're past the imposing gate, a hidden world unfolds—first an enormous Italian garden dotted with statues, then another large garden at the rear containing two amphitheaters. Villa Clerici's interior rooms feature 18th-century frescoes, trompe l'oeil decorations, and coffered ceilings. It all feels opulent yet somehow restrained—sacred and slightly surreal at the same time. I walk up the stairs in the quiet afternoon and find Trotter at the end of a long corridor, enfolded in a Raphael Raffel leather lounge sofa from the 1970s with custom Bottega Veneta leather, produced by Cassina. A wide window behind her overlooks the arched courtyard. 'I realized we couldn't not do the interview here,' Trotter says with a smile. She has a kind of whimsical mystery to her, mixed with an innate curiosity and intelligence. 'In Paris, everything is grand and declared—in Milan, you have to find your own treasures.' That notion seems to dovetail perfectly with the ethos of Bottega, which has always defied the noise of fashion. Founded in Vicenza as Bottega Veneta Artigiana in 1966 by Renzo Zengiaro and Michele Taddei, it has long built its identity on the idea that true luxury whispers. 'My initial connection to the house was as a customer—I was collecting vintage Bottega Veneta,' says Trotter, who was struck by what seemed to be a radical ethos: 'They were able to create a clear identity without any need for a logo, and I think that takes a certain confidence. You're not making a statement to be seen—you're showing who you are.' The Latin phrase nomen omen—the name is a sign—rings true with her: She is, quite literally, a globe-trotter. Before Bottega, she brought a refined tailoring and minimalist aesthetic to England, America, and France, working variously at Gap, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, and the London brands Jigsaw and Joseph. In 2018 she became the first woman to lead Lacoste, and in 2023 she took over Carven. Throughout her career, she's been less a disrupter than a very creative and vibrant custodian—someone who honors legacy through quiet reinvention. This patient philosophy feels especially resonant in the fast-shifting fashion scenario of our current moment, when disruption has become the norm. Unfortunately, though, it's still rather rare to see a woman leading a house of Bottega Veneta's scale and stature. 'Of course I would like to see more female representation—not just in design, but from a business side too,' Trotter says, adding: 'I want to believe that I've succeeded because of my work and because of who I am, and not just because I'm a woman.' To start her creative process for Bottega, Trotter has been spending time in Montebello Vicentino, where the house's archives and artisans are based. 'What's fascinating is seeing how pieces from decades ago still feel relevant—I look at something 50 years old, and I still completely desire it. But we are still very much in a getting-to-know-each-other phase,' she says with a chuckle. What she will share of her process involves a balance between learning from established systems and adding her own touch—'observing and stepping in,' as she puts it. She builds from the past, but is never beholden to it. 'You have to know where a house comes from in order to move forward,' she says.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Julianne Moore Hard-Launches Bottega Veneta's New Era at Cannes
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. When a designer takes the reins at a luxury house, they typically save their creative debut for a September runway show. Louise Trotter, the new creative director at Bottega Veneta, decided not to wait until Milan Fashion Week to unveil her vision. Instead, she revealed a sneak peek at her agenda for the famed Italian label with Julianne Moore on the 2025 Cannes Film Festival red carpet. Moore attended the May 18 premiere of Wes Anderson's The Phoenician Scheme in Trotter's very first creation for Bottega Veneta: a black strapless gown styled by Kate Young. The dress featured a subtle wrap effect and a fringe tassel accent secured at Moore's left shoulder. She paired the understated piece with Boucheron drop earrings and pointed-toe heels. Moore revealed her head-start at wearing New Bottega in an Instagram post later that evening. "Cannes 2025," she wrote. "Thank you @louise_trotter_ for allowing me to wear your first dress for #bottegaveneta ❤️." Bottega Veneta last appeared on a major red carpet during the 2025 awards season, when Mikey Madison and Demi Moore wore some of former creative director Matthieu Blazy's final designs for the house. Madison's 2025 Golden Globes pick was a gilded gold dress coated in sequins; Moore's SAG Awards look was a strapless leather column gown. Since then, Bottega Veneta has quietly prepared for the ascent of its next creative director. Louise Trotter's appointment was announced in December, in a cascade of executive switch-ups fashion insiders referred to as "musical chairs." Blazy departed Bottega Veneta the same day for the head design post at Chanel, replacing Virginie Viard. These C-suite positions have big effects on the red carpet—and the luxury accessories stylish women end up buying. Moore's debut Bottega Veneta gown says Trotter is bringing an avant-minimalist touch to the brand. Her first design was regal and well-crafted, but not overdone. Of course, it's only the very first look. When the runway arrives in September, we'll see her vision in full.
Vogue
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue
Carven Pre-Fall 2025 Collection
Glance at this collection, which is officially credited to the Carven studio, and you would be hard-pressed to detect where Louise Trotter's vision ends, and incoming director of design Mark Thomas's begins. From the lookbook's opening trench coat with its soft gray underside to the crisp tuxedo shirt and tuxedo skirt further down, this transition moment appears like a well-considered articulation in continuity. Anyone who has been drawn to the brand since Trotter's arrival in 2023 (with Thomas as her senior designer) will appreciate how these latest streamlined yet sophisticated silhouettes merge with previous seasons. Of course, it never hurts to inject a touch of inspiration, which comes in the form of women artists such as Agnes Martin, Georgia O'Keeffe, and Celia Paul. Rather than their works (largely dissimilar), their style—inside and outside the studio—informed some of the blousy smock tops and wraparound apron shapes. These interpretations are not literal—more like abstractions—and their materials make all the difference. Among the ongoing codes of Carven is a penchant for fabrics that appear structured to the eye yet soft around the body, such as a rounded mac coat, a lingerie dress with flannel on front and crushed lining in the back, or the looks in couture-like silk wool. The knits and cashmere shifts—often double-faced and accented with subtle design details—are pieces to be grateful for when you need to leave home looking pulled together. More often than not, Carven understands the wearable imperative, even when an ample khaki skirt conjuring a tarp impulsively pulled off a painting seems more satisfying to imagine than to wear. If the open-toed satin mules and supple bedroom slippers paired with ribbed socks are more suited to life indoors than the practicalities of the street, a new bag named Tommaso has a minimalist, all-purpose appeal. As for the crisp and tailored denim, notice the gold key that ornaments a belt loop. Replicated from a key found at the venue of Trotter's first runway show, it became a symbol for the studio—and now, presumably, for us as Thomas opens the door to his own Carven soon enough.
Vogue Singapore
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue Singapore
From American Gigolo to Princess Diana—Bottega Veneta celebrates 50 Years of its iconic Intrecciato bags
It's a big year for Bottega Veneta. In September, the newly-installed creative director Louise Trotter will debut her vision for the future of the Italian label. Before that though Bottega Veneta is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its Intrecciato weave, which was introduced a little less than a decade after the brand was founded in Vincenza, Veneto, and quickly established its reputation for craft and creativity. 'In 1960s Italy, the market was dominated by heavy, stiff, and structured handbags,' recalls Barbara Zanin, Bottega Veneta's Director of Craft and Heritage. '[Our] designs were characterised by their great softness—the bags were fluid, supple, simple. The introduction of the Intrecciato gave the bags a fluidity, almost like a fabric.' The first Bottega Veneta ad featured in Vogue's March 1975 issue. Courtesy of Bottega Veneta The Intrecciato technique utilises long leather fettucce, or thin strips, that are woven into a leather base with slits in a diagonal pattern, instead of the more common vertical pattern. Much like cutting a piece of fabric on the bias, this technical development allowed for a softer structure. Its unique appearance became Bottega Veneta's calling card; eschewing the logo-driven trends of other luxury labels, in its first advertising campaigns it boasted: 'People know a Bottega the minute they see one. So we put our name on the inside only.' With Paul Schrader's 1980 film American Gigolo , the Intrecciato bag became an indelible part of the fashion pop culture canon when Lauren Hutton's character carried a burgundy clutch in the crook of her arm. The bag was appropriately re-released as the 'Lauren Clutch' in 2017, and it's since become a favorite of celebrities—and the not-so-famous—who want to show off their good taste in a subtle way; although these days the Intrecciato is as easily recognizable as anything with logos on it. Tina Turner carrying her all-white Intrecciato at Spago, 1984. Getty Brooke Shields at the Death Becomes Her premiere, 1992. Getty There is a world of possibility within Intrecciato. In 2002, when Tomas Maier was the creative director at the brand, he introduced the Cabat bag, which was entirely hand-woven on a wooden frame, a process that was named Intreccio (the Intrecciato utilises a needle for the weaving process). Further experiments with different types of leather have yielded other signature styles; Zanin mentions 'a padded fettucce for a more plush appearance,' or an 'an ultra-soft nappa leather that retains the impression of movements and folds of the weaving process to create a specially textured look.' Madonna at the Los Angeles premiere of Truth or Dare, 1991. Getty There is a world of possibility within Intrecciato. In 2002, when Tomas Maier was the creative director at the brand, he introduced the Cabat bag, which was entirely hand-woven on a wooden frame, a process that was named Intreccio (the Intrecciato utilizes a needle for the weaving process). Further experiments with different types of leather have yielded other signature styles; Zanin mentions 'a padded fettucce for a more plush appearance,' or an 'an ultra-soft nappa leather that retains the impression of movements and folds of the weaving process to create a specially textured look.' To ensure that a passion for craft continues to be at the heart of Bottega Veneta, the house launched the Accademia Labor et Ingenium in 2023, a school that instructs the next generation of artisans on the intricacies of their labor. 'A central pillar of the school is a training program for 50 students a year, with guaranteed employment at Bottega Veneta on completion of the course,' explains Zanin, who helped establish it. 'It's our responsibility to ensure the transmission of our artisanal savoir-faire.' Bottega Veneta's first Intrecciato bag from 1975. A close-up at the Intrecciato process. Matteo de Mayda The Intreccio technique, meanwhile, is all made by hand. Matteo de Mayda The bags are woven on a wooden frame. Matteo de Mayda This story was originally published on
Vogue
29-05-2025
- Business
- Vogue
From American Gigolo to Princess Diana—Bottega Veneta Celebrates 50 Years of Its Iconic Intrecciato Bags
It's a big year for Bottega Veneta. In September, the newly-installed creative director Louise Trotter will debut her vision for the future of the Italian label. Before that though Bottega Veneta is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its Intrecciato weave, which was introduced a little less than a decade after the brand was founded in Vincenza, Veneto, and quickly established its reputation for craft and creativity. 'In 1960s Italy, the market was dominated by heavy, stiff, and structured handbags,' recalls Barbara Zanin, Bottega Veneta's Director of Craft and Heritage. '[Our] designs were characterized by their great softness—the bags were fluid, supple, simple. The introduction of the Intrecciato gave the bags a fluidity, almost like a fabric.' The first Bottega Veneta ad featured in Vogue's March 1975 issue. Photo: Courtesy of Bottega Veneta The Intrecciato technique utilizes long leather fettucce, or thin strips, that are woven into a leather base with slits in a diagonal pattern, instead of the more common vertical pattern. Much like cutting a piece of fabric on the bias, this technical development allowed for a softer structure. Its unique appearance became Bottega Veneta's calling card; eschewing the logo-driven trends of other luxury labels, in its first advertising campaigns it boasted: 'People know a Bottega the minute they see one. So we put our name on the inside only.' With Paul Schrader's 1980 film American Gigolo, the Intrecciato bag became an indelible part of the fashion pop culture canon when Lauren Hutton's character carried a burgundy clutch in the crook of her arm. The bag was appropriately re-released as the 'Lauren Clutch' in 2017, and it's since become a favorite of celebrities—and the not-so-famous—who want to show off their good taste in a subtle way; although these days the Intrecciato is as easily recognizable as anything with logos on it.
