Louise Trotter's Bottega Veneta Era Begins… and She's Not Missing a Beat

Louise Trotter's debut at Bottega Veneta was not just a collection, but a reaffirmation that fashion can be both grounded and transcendent. She approached the archive with the craft of a historian, stating in the show notes: "I like that the 'Bottega' is a workshop." Before arriving at Bottega Veneta, Louise Trotter carved out a reputation as one of fashion's quiet perfectionists at brands including Joseph, Lacoste and, most recently, Carven. 

In her nine months at the house, Trotter fell in love and inspiration with the Intrecciato and used it as fuel rather than nostalgia. "The language of Bottega Veneta is Intrecciato," she says. "It is two different strips woven together that become stronger – the two things make a stronger whole. Collaboration and connectivity run throughout this house and its history, from its beginnings to what it is now." 

The Spring/Summer 2026 collection, showcased at Milan Fashion Week was attended by Julianne Moore, Vicky Krieps, Uma Thurman, Adolescence's  Owen Cooper, BTS' RM, IN, Chelsea FC's Lauren James, King Princess, Zadie Smith and more collaborators and friends of the brand.

 

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As for the collection, tailoring was featherlight yet disciplined and at times, cinched. Nappa leather garments rippled like water, even in the boxier silhouettes, while evening gowns and drop-waist skirts swayed with each step. Menswear logic was applied to womenswear without diluting the power of femininity. The colorways were primarily neutral, with pops of color and tone especially in the outerwear.  And, true to Bottega Veneta, masterful precision was on full display with a leather cape in particular that took 4,000 hours to hand-weave.

Everything spoke of process, time and touch, and the accessories amplified this ethos: the Lauren stretched boldly, the Knot relaxed its posture, the Cabat dissolved into a clutch. New icons emerged too, including the Squash, the Framed Tote, the Crafty Basket and, of course, a leather Intrecciato newspaper alongside refreshed tote bags.

Even the soundtrack carried symbolism. Steve McQueen re-engineered Nina Simone and David Bowie's individual renditions of "Wild Is the Wind" into a unified duet, weaving in harmony just like its leather technique... Intrecciato in sound form.

For SS26, Trotter's message was clear: craftsmanship is collaboration, and the message was heard industry-wide.

For more MFW updates, read up on The Attico's "Lei è così" collection.

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