Tomas Maier Biography and Photos

Bottega Veneta is a manufacturer of luxury leather goods, most famous for its Intrecciato line of woven leather. The company is based in Vicenza, in the Veneto region of northeast Italy. A family firm founded in 1966, Bottega Veneta was bought by Gucci in 2001.

Bottega Veneta was launched by Vittorio and Laura Moltedo in 1966.

However interest in the brand declined during the 1990s so in 2000, the Moltedos brought in British designer Giles Deacon to shake up the languishing house. According to Deacon, the interview took place on a bed at the George V in Paris, and he got the job because Laura Moltedo liked a picture in his portfolio, of a budgerigar driving a Rolls-Royce. Under Deacon the company launched a successful line of Ready-To-Wear clothing, but in July 2001 Tom Ford persuaded Gucci Group to buy Bottega Veneta.

Ford moved Deacon to Gucci womenswear, and German-born designer Tomas Maier took over at Bottega Veneta. With Gucci's support, Bottega Veneta has reclaimed its leading position in the luxury leather goods market.

Bottega is best known for its hand-woven leather goods - bags, belts, and shoes. They are all handcrafted in Italy and retail for €1000 or more. Current Bottega handbags typically boast clean lines, the softest Intreciatto woven leathers, and a classic palette. Major trends are nodded to (such as patent leather and studs in autumn 2007), but always in a toned-down, easy-to-wear way. They are generally only labelled on the inside, although under Deacon, the metalwork had small, subtle logos). Bottega Veneta’s approach is best summed up by a company slogan that loosely translates as "When your own initials are enough"

Maier's aesthetic for Bottega Veneta Ready-To-Wear is more understated and classical than Deacon's "high-octane, ultra-sexy" look. Lines are simple and clean, with ladylike silhouettes and (particularly for Spring/Summer collections) Greco-Roman inspired draping and folding predominating. The colour palette consists largely of light-toned neutrals and pastels for recent Spring/Summer collections, and black, neutrals and faded colours, such as reds and yellows for Autumn/Winter 2007–08.