“My work has always been about storytelling and Bulgari’s rich archive is full of symbolism,” says designer Mary Katrantzou of why she has chosen to team up with the heritage jewellery brand on another collection of high-end bejewelled handbags. “It’s inspiring to decode a DNA so full of history and filter it through my own perspective.”
The Greek designer, who is best known for her use of bold prints and colour, has brought her unique perspective onto Bulgari’s fascinating history, dipping into the archives for her inspiration and creating unique accessories that she says “encapsulate the beauty of the natural world”.
“After the success of our first collaboration, it felt natural to build on one of the strengths of the first collection with the Serpenti embroidered Metamorphis bag,” she explains, while they have also added two other designs, which she calls “an ode to Bulgari’s iconic symbols seen in their archival designs”.
All three bags in the collection feature artwork that Katrantzou created based on her research into the brand’s history, which was then brought to life in the form of hand-embroidery. “I wanted to focus on the incredible craftsmanship and couture embroidery techniques to create bags that are true collectors' items.” In the atelier, master artisans will spend over 200 hours on one handbag.
Katrantzou focussed specifically on the intricate symbols that have previously adorned Bulgari watch dials and high jewellery, and explored concepts, such as the Garden of Eden and the Tree of Life, which are symbolic in the house’s design history. “I love being able to act as curator and select the most incredible details found in their archives, and in turn compose an intricate and fantastical tableau.”
This idea of curation is what the designer believes makes a great fashion collaboration. “It is the opportunity to explore a brand’s history and identity with the ability to filter that through one’s own creative lens to create something that is in sync with their aesthetic, but also of our times,” she says.
And, it's all about those shared values.
“Bulgari’s dual Greek-Roman roots and their cultural heritage is something we have in common and it has shaped a similar aesthetic which has become the foundation for our collaboration.”
The capsule collection will be available from May 2023 in selected Bulgari boutiques worldwide.
