Bottega Veneta presented its Summer 2026 collection with the debut of creative director Louise Trotter, coinciding with the house’s 60th anniversary.
The show reflected both the origins and evolution of the brand, balancing craftsmanship with modern reinterpretations of its design codes.
Trotter described Bottega Veneta as a workshop, rooted in collective effort and the relationship between maker and wearer. Her approach returned to the beginnings of the house to find its present. References to Venice, New York and Milan framed the collection, echoing the journey of the company itself and the tenure of Laura Braggion, who became the first female creative lead in the 1980s.
The collection placed emphasis on “soft functionality”, a principle tied to the Intrecciato technique developed by cofounder Renzo Zengiaro. This was expressed across clothing and accessories, from tailoring to eveningwear. Summer-weight fabrics dominated, with structures informed by traditional men’s tailoring. Nappa leather trench coats and cotton-lined gowns highlighted the focus on interiors, while both men’s and women’s pieces were produced in Italian workshops known for masculine tailoring.
Accessories revisited archival designs while introducing new forms. The Lauren was reworked in fresh proportions, the Knot took on a softer structure, and the Cabat was adapted into a clutch. New designs included the Squash, an elongated Framed Tote, and the Crafty Basket, each showcasing artisanal expertise. Elements such as the triangular base of the Cabat informed clothing construction, underscoring the interplay between accessories and ready-to-wear.
For the anniversary, Trotter collaborated with British artist and Oscar-winning director Steve McQueen, who created the soundtrack titled ’66–’76. The piece combined Nina Simone’s 1966 version and David Bowie’s 1976 version of Wild Is the Wind, reconfigured into a duet. McQueen described the work as a statement about love and its universality. “Love does not follow any mantra or doctrine, rather it seeks and leaks into any situation,” he noted. The project built on his earlier sound and light installation Bass at Dia Beacon in 2024, which had inspired Trotter to approach him.
Trotter aligned McQueen’s audio concept with the symbolism of the Intrecciato weave. “The language of Bottega Veneta is Intrecciato. And it is a metaphor. It is two different strips woven together that become stronger,” she explained. The collection, and its accompanying soundtrack, underlined Bottega Veneta’s heritage of collaboration, connectivity and craft, reinterpreted for its sixth decade.
