FANTASTICAL ANIMALS TAKE OVER THE BOTTEGA VENETA SS25 RUNWAY
Joyful and fantastical, the Bottega Veneta Spring/Summer’25 collection was imbued with comfort, animals, and a sense of childlike wonder. With guests sitting near the ground on Zanotta Sacco inspired animal themed chairs, made from leather, a childish creativity was further evoked from this unusual perspective.
Matthieu Blazy, creative director at the house, stated that the chairs - coined the Ark - were meant to encapsulate the joyous parts of the world and its wonder. The limited-edition lounge chairs share the same soft, anti-formalistic, and fluid traits that characterised the early bags of Bottega Veneta. Blazy’s interpretation of the Sacco metamorphosises the shape into playful animals, with each iteration featuring different colourways and animals — and each representing boundless imagination.
With the guests populated by friendly animal companions, bright smiles were bound to be seen at the show. And the stunning looks walking around the space additionally widened their smiles.
In the collection, looks are playful and chicly awkward. Silhouettes are expressed with carefree energy, often mis-proportioned, almost as if children are playing dress up. Similarly, conventional grown-up allure and sophistication is undone, creased, messed, and remade. But in this radical change and scenario flipping, there is a fearless admiration of youth and joy. Experimentation and discovery is central here, just as it were when we were children.
Vibrant colours further radiate from the models and the recurring cast of characters create a fun playground to engage with. There is a businessman, for example, carrying his daughter’s blinding pink backpack, and a mother coming home from picking up her groceries. The accessories too are approached with feeling and humour, as grocery bags, flower bouquets, and beautiful clutches particularly shine.
Blazy pondered if we can power in sweetness; if charm can collide with precision. This Bottega Veneta show demonstrates how it can. They created a joyous coming-of-age world, one where its people are finding silliness again amidst a curated sophistication.
