Bottega Veneta Celebrates 50 Years of the Intrecciato

The Italian fashion house reiterates its focus on the universal language of craft for its latest campaign, Craft is our Language

BY ASRI JASMAN

The Intrecciato had been a quiet luxury device long before “quiet luxury” was even a thing. When one thinks of Bottega Veneta, the House’s signature weaving precedes everything else—even the brand’s own logo. The Intrecciato (pronounced in-treh-chah-toh) has become such a synonymous part of the House that it’s almost unthinkable that it only came to be almost a decade after the founding of Bottega Veneta.

Its name literally translates to English as “intertwined”, which is apt given how the Intrecciato has evolved to mean more than just a hallmark of the House—it’s the defining expression of Bottega Veneta’s founding principles of craft and creativity. It was first introduced in 1975 and involves the weaving of leather strips (called fettucce) into a leather base panel or around a wooden mould. While the resulting interlocking motif may look deceptively easy to construct, the practice demands hours and sometimes days of artisanal patience and skill in order to craft a piece that’s not only beautiful in appearance, but also strong and durable in functionality. The Intrecciato itself is inspired by the time-honoured Italian tradition of weaving and leatherworking expertise of the Veneto region (the House’s origins) combiend with the signature diagonal arrangement, meticulous proportions, and the quality of Bottega Veneta leathers.

Throughout the decades, the craft has been transmitted from different generations of artisans as well as reimagined in various ways by the House’s creative directors. But the visual identity of the Intrecciato has remained distinct no matter how its shape, colour, size, or structure had been manipulated. Its application too has extended from leather goods to ready-to-wear pieces that showcase the exceptional skills of the House’s artisans and the fluidity of the Intrecciato.

In celebration of 50 years of the Intrecciato, Bottega Veneta emphasises its longstanding commitment to craft. Lensed by Jack Davison, Craft is our Language sees the Intrecciato as a metaphor—a symbol of interconnectedness, exchange, and collaboration that have altogether been at the heart of the House since the very beginning. The craft is seen as a universal language, much like the myriad of hand gestures choreographed by Lenio Kaklea that the campaign employs and are understood across different generations, cultures, and backgrounds.

The cast of Craft is our Language is also an international one. Bottega Veneta assembled an eclectic mix of outstanding practitioners across different artistic fields: singer-songwriter and record producer Jack Antonoff of Bleachers, director Dario Argento, designer Edward Buchanan, artist and sculptor Barbara Chase-Riboud, singer-songwriter Neneh Cherry, filmmaker and record producer Dave Free, actress Lauren Hutton, singer I.N, actor Troy Kotsur, actress Vicky Krieps, actor Terrance Lau, actress Rie Miyazawa, actress Julianne Moore, tennis player Lorenzo Musetti, actress Shu Qi, writer Zadie Smith, singer-actress Thanaerng, recording artist and producer Tyler, the Creator, and conductor Lorenzo Viotti. They’re an assortment of talents that are both familiar as well as new to the House, but collectively, represent the kind of pursuit of artistic excellence that Bottega Veneta embodies. Buchanan’s and Hutton’s involvement, especially, hold greater meaning. The former was the House’s design director from 1995 to 2000 who introduced ready-to-wear, while the latter was part of the cultural phenomenon that propelled the Intrecciato to greater recognition when she carried an Intrecciato clutch in 1980’s American Gigolo.

As universal as the campaign is, there is also an homage to the House’s Italian roots. The concept and aesthetic of Craft is our Language nods to Milanese artist and designer Bruno Munari and his 1963 handbook of Italian gestures, Supplemento al Dizionario Italiano (Supplement to the Italian dictionary). In other words, the campaign reflects Bottega Veneta’s approach to all that it does—universal in its appeal while remaining centred to its roots.

Craft is our Language does not end here. The campaign is set to be immortalised in a book scheduled to be released in September that will also include a second instalment of images and films, featuring an additional cast of talents. The culmination will be a total of 50 gestures representing an intertwining “dictionary” of the language, the craft, and the values of Bottega Veneta.

This article is originally available at www.esquiresg.com