On the evening of February 27th 2022 in Milan, perhaps the most hotly anticipated moments of the AW22 shows took place — the presentation of Matthieu Blazy’s debut collection as the creative director of Bottega Veneta. A veritable standout of the season, it saw the house’s former design director step into his new role with aplomb, bringing a spirit of refinement, subtlety and exquisite craftsmanship, that showcased the industry-leading capabilities of the Milanese label’s storied leather artisans.
Styled by i-D’s very own editor-in-chief, Alastair McKimm, the collection was imbued with an effortless contemporaneity. Pyramidal leather skirts with trails of fringe that bounced from the hem sat next to snow white tank tops and blue jeans crafted from butter soft nappa; thigh high boots with curved stiletto heels were handwoven using the house’s signature intrecciato technique, and models clutched at padded pillow bags.
Behind the scenes of the main event, photographer Nick Waplington accompanied Matthieu, Alastair and the Bottega Veneta teams, documenting the final fittings, the backstage moments, and the celebratory spirit post show. Here, we share an exclusive BTS look at one of AW22’s most memorable shows.
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Credits
Photography Nick Waplington.