There’s quiet luxury, and there’s logomania. Then, there are Bottega Veneta bags, which neither whisper nor shout. They don’t need to: the impeccable craftspersonship, instantly recognisable woven leather and sculptural silhouettes speak for themselves. So it’s no wonder that the 60-year-old Italian house’s Intrecciato handbags, old and new, are high on every Who What Wear UK editor’s wish list. This summer, five of them are captured in a striking portrait series which highlights new-gen Bottega Veneta icons (the Mini Andiamo and Madison flap bag), an older silhouette in the Lauren 1980, and gives us a sneak preview of the Baby Barbara and Baby Campana totes that are due to drop soon.
Bottega’s first female creative director, Louise Trotter, understands the importance of imbuing clothing with meaning, and has wasted no time delving into the prestigious house codes. She’s freshened things up with a few contemporary touches here and there, like shrinking the Barbara and Campana totes to playful “baby” proportions, pulling details from the archive and adding a mouldable flap to the Madison. All of these standout features—alongside that beautiful, unmistakable woven leather—keep Bottega Veneta in a logo-less league of its own.
The new portrait series is thoughtfully named “Il Mio”, an Italian expression that translates to “What belongs to me.” This intimate campaign explores the relationship between a treasured object and the person who chooses it. Drew Vickers captures models Chu Wong, Selena Forrest and Sihana Shalaj in a series of posed and candid shots, wearing outfits from casual to corporate and evening that showcase just how versatile these handbags are.
Ultimately, Trotter is encouraging us to treat Bottega’s Intrecciato pieces as more than just transient arm candy, allowing them to evolve into life companions before we pass them down through generations (yes, they’re that well-made). Bottega has mastered the balance between timeless and on-trend, so its luxury handbags are always worth the investment. Each piece is exquisitely crafted from fine leathers, and you can be sure that it will get better with wear, developing that unique patina that only comes from truly loving and living in your accessories.
Below, discover the merits and unique stories of each star bag. We’d be proud to carry any of them.
Style Notes: First up is the Andiamo, an Intrecciato bag with a boxy structure and knotted hardware. Debuting at the spring/summer 2023 show, the name (“andiamo” means “let’s go”) and convertible, sliding straps instantly signalled that this design was for women on the move. Louise Trotter introduced the smaller Mini Andiamo—which can also be worn cross-body, in-hand or over the shoulder—in March, extending its reach so it could become something more evening-appropriate.
Style Notes: The Campana tote was originally introduced for spring/summer 2004. The capacious hobo silhouette feels especially relevant now, whilst fashion is in the midst of a Y2K renaissance. Trotter’s Baby Campana release is perfect for those who love the nonchalance of an unstructured silhouette but prefer not to be weighed down by too many things. We hope the Baby comes in the same shades as its big sister, because we’re in love with the off-kilter Travertine and Lava Red colourways.
Style Notes: Lauren Hutton immortalised this Intrecciato clutch in American Gigolo (1980), a cult film that propelled Bottega Veneta into the cultural spotlight. This frame-structured pouch (with a delicate chain strap) re-launched in 2016, carried down the runway by none other than Hutton herself. And when Trotter took the reins in 2025, she immediately paid respect to the house’s original It bag for her first show, making sure the actor was front row. Hutton’s original Barolo colourway is a favourite, but we’re also very into Espresso and Sea Salt for their versatility.
Style Notes: Created during Trotter’s tenure, the Barbara is totally new to the Bottega family. The house has already nailed daytime bags and their “ladylike” clutch counterparts, so a practical city-slicker tote like this to hold your laptop fills a gap. The Baby Barbara is coming later this summer. For the woman who loves the easy access of a structured bag, not to mention the desk-to-dinner versatility of a smarter silhouette, this mini iteration is ideal.
Style Notes: There’s a playful Trotter twist on the new-gen 2026 Madison design: a “memory” flap that can be reshaped time and time again, which freshens up this classic chain-strap bag. Named after Bottega’s first New York store (and indeed the first store outside of Italy), which opened in 1972, this bag was once part of a limited-edition run by former creative director Tomas Maier, and now it’s a hero piece.
