Exclusive and high quality goods are the mainstay of the Italian company, Bottega Veneta. It began as a family concern in Venice in 1966, manufacturing luxury leather items. It is still mainly known for its leather goods and also for the ready to wear clothing line and accessories for men and women.
The prestige attached to the company has come from the Intrecciato Line, a range of hand woven leather handbags costing up to $3,000. The leather is the best that money can buy and is the softest of any leather manufactured. The Bottega Veneta designs follow a classic tradition rather than attempting to follow the latest fashion. Hand woven belts and footwear are also for sale, in a wide choice of colors.
The clothing line is also very popular and often worn by the rich and famous, including movie stars. The design is again of the classic form and the price tag reflects the fact that these clothes will not go out of fashion and be obsolete.
There is also a Home Collection with furniture for the living room, dining room, study or bedroom. Woven leather bench seats are sold alongside coffee tables with leather inset and a limestone top. There are side tables with a smoked glass top to protect the leather. The dining room set also has a leather table with smoked glass top and matching chairs. Bottega Veneta has a range for all the needs of a study, including desk, table lamp, magazine rack, pencil holder, letter holder and letter tray. Bedroom furniture includes a night table and dividing screen with a leather frame surrounding metal mesh and a smoked mirror.
Various other items are sold, including matching soft alligator luggage sets, leather wallets, leather and brass desk clocks and vases. There are personal items too, such as hand braided, gold necklaces and cufflinks. Even the pet dog is catered for with a range of dog leashes, bowls, collars and beds.
2001 was a significant year for the company. It merged with the famous Gucci Group and a new leader of the company was appointed. The German designer Tomas Maier was given the task of rejuvenating the brand, as sales had declined. He set about raising the profile of Bottega Veneta and modernizing some aspects of the operation. His efforts proved to be a great success. Today, the company retails from fourteen outlets across America, in California, Florida, Texas, Illinois, Arizona, New York City and Hawaii.
|
