Bottega Veneta: A Masterclass in Texture

Silk that looks like fur. Leather woven into fringe. Long fibres turned into something that looks almost impossible not to touch. Things are not always what they seem at Bottega Veneta. For her second collection, Louise Trotter plays with texture, proportion and perception.

Bottega Veneta

Trotter joined the house after her tenure at Carven, succeeding Matthieu Blazy in 2025. Shoulders are exaggerated and rounded, coats are long and trousers wide, for both women and men. There is real tailoring underneath all that volume, yet the clothes still appear surprisingly light.

And then there is the leather. Founded in Vicenza in 1966, the house built its reputation on leather craftsmanship, with Intrecciato becoming its signature rather than a visible logo. Trotter uses the weave everywhere: on coveted new bags, of course, but also on clothes. A long beige coat is edged with contrasting woven leather along its collar and lapels, while elsewhere she takes Intrecciato into silk.

Bottega Veneta

The real surprise: what looks like fur isn’t fur at all. This collection is entirely fur-free, with artisans creating surfaces that mimic its texture and sheen. Long strands are worked into new tactile surfaces, appearing on coats, dresses, hats and even shoes. It is ingenious and playful. Even in photographs, you want to reach out and feel it.

The Italian house has long understood that luxury does not need a logo. Sometimes, you recognise it by touch.

Images courtesy of Bottega Veneta