Bottega Veneta opens a school for artisanal craft
Bottega Veneta’s Accademia Labor et Ingenium – the Academy of Craft and Creativity – has been founded to continue the house’s commitment to preserving traditional technique

Extraordinary feats of leatherwork and craft have defined creative director Matthieu Blazy’s tenure at Bottega Veneta so far, facets of his collections made possible by the Italian house’s atelier and craftspeople (originally, ‘bottega’ referred to a shop with a small artisanal workshop in the back).
In news released today, Bottega Veneta – which was founded in 1966 with the development of a leather weaving design known as ‘intrecciato’ – deepens its longtime association with craft with the opening of the Accademia Labor et Ingenium. Based between the house’s atelier in Montebello Vicentino and a dedicated space in nearby Povolaro Dueville, Bottega Veneta’s manufacturing site, the name translates to ‘Academy of Craft and Creativity’. Both locations are in Veneto, a region in the north-east of Italy where the house was founded.
Bottega Veneta introduces Accademia Labor et Ingenium
One of the Accademia Labor et Ingenium’s workshops
The school will take on 50 students a year, with a guarantee of employment from the house on completion of the program. Lessons will be led by five Bottega Veneta master artisans, while the academy will also provide tutorship for existing employees in upcycling and reskilling, as well as uniting with local partners in a celebration of the wider made-in-Italy crafts of the region. This includes a ‘masterclass’ with Università Iuav di Venezia titled ‘The Artisanal Creative Process: Training Course in Bag Design & Product Development’, which begins today (16 October 2023). Bottega Veneta hopes that such exchanges will ensure craft know-how is passed between generations.
’As a young apprentice at Bottega Veneta, I learned from the expertise, passion, and precision of more experienced artisans,’ said Ruggero Negretto, one of Bottega Veneta’s longest-serving employees and part of the master artisan teaching collective. ‘It’s a great honour and responsibility to pass on this unique knowledge to a new generation and continue the great tradition of the bottega in all its community, creativity, and cultural heritage.’
Students will be taught leatherwork and craft techniques by master artisans of the house
’Accademia Labor et Ingenium is a key strategic pillar to preserve Bottega Veneta’s unique savoir-faire,’ adds Bottega Veneta CEO, Leo Rongone. ‘Exceptional craft and creativity are essential to our brand and to the heritage of our home region in Veneto. With the Accademia, we take the collective ethos at the heart of Bottega Veneta to a new level, building on our rich history of skill-sharing and innovation to nurture the artisans of the future.’
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox
Jack Moss is the Fashion Features Editor at Wallpaper*. Having previously held roles at 10, 10 Men and AnOther magazines, he joined the team in 2022. His work has a particular focus on the moments where fashion and style intersect with other creative disciplines – among them art and design – as well as championing a new generation of international talent and profiling the industry’s leading figures and brands.
-
Matthew M Williams is leaving Givenchy
American designer Matthew M Williams is set to exit his role as creative director of Givenchy after a three-year tenure
By Jack Moss Published
-
David Brown Automotive transforms original Mini into a high-end, high-spec EV
The DBA Mini eMastered: luxury motoring is rarely so altruistic and joyful
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
OPPO celebrated smartphone photography excellence at Paris Photo 2023
Smartphone giant OPPO announced the next steps in smartphone photography during its Paris Photo showcase
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Unconventional men’s tailoring to make an impression this winter
This winter’s men’s tailoring is defined by razor-sharp reinterpretations of classic silhouettes, designed to make you stand out over a celebratory season ahead
By Jack Moss Published
-
This season’s most dramatic runway sets, from curtains of slime to disco balls
Revisit the transporting runway sets of S/S 2024 fashion month, which spanned dystopian herbariums, destroyed disco balls and artwork-adorned catwalks
By Jack Moss Published
-
Private view: autumn fashion on display at David Zwirner gallery
Photographer Dham Srifuengfung captures the best autumn fashion on a cast of cultural characters in a London art gallery, as seen in the November Art Issue of Wallpaper*
By Jack Moss Published
-
Bottega Veneta celebrates Brazilian culture in São Paulo’s landmark modernist building, Casa de Vidro
Italian fashion house Bottega Veneta reveals the latest chapter of its ‘The Square’ project, a travelling cultural series that seeks to provide a dialogue with countries around the world
By Jack Moss Published
-
Watch Bottega Veneta’s new film, a love letter to reunions and homecomings
In celebration of the Lunar New Year, Jess Jing Zou has worked with Bottega Veneta on a short film, marking the annual homecoming
By Martha Elliott Published
-
Bottega Veneta’s bags are now guaranteed for life
From November, Bottega Veneta bags will be eligible for ‘unlimited repair and refresh’ with the new ‘Certificate of Craft’ – a celebration of the house’s commitment to craft and longevity
By Jack Moss Published
-
A closer look at Gaetano Pesce’s colourful set for Bottega Veneta
Comprising a poured resin floor and 400 unique chairs, Gaetano Pesce created the set for Matthieu Blazy’s sophomore outing at Bottega Veneta this past weekend in Milan – a demonstration of the designer, artist and architect’s humanist style
By Jack Moss Last updated
-
For the holiday season, Bottega Veneta hands its platforms to 12 bottegas around Italy
Bottega for Bottegas launches for the festive season – a collaboration between the Italian luxury house and 12 artisans around its home country
By Laura Hawkins Last updated