In the era of mass production and waning artisanship,  Bottega Veneta has developed a partnership between La Scuola dei Maestri Pellettieri di Bottega Veneta and The University IUAV of Venice in efforts to preserve Italian craftsmanship of the Veneto region, where the brand originated. This collaborative effort has resulted in a 3-month postgraduate level course in advanced handbag design and product development. 

Founded in 2006 under the creative direction of Tomas Maier, La Scuola dei Maestri Pellettieri di Bottega Veneta is actually a school that was formed to train a new generation of artisans, based at the Bottega Veneta atelier in the 18th century Montebello Vicentino villa. This collaborative programme with the University IUAV of Venice kicked off at the end of January 2015. The students would be thoroughly schooled personally by the artisans themselves.

Split into a two-part programme, the first part, held at the University of Venice, “Laboratory Bag Design”, focuses on design, history, the breakdown and analysis of bag architecture, to the construction of new designs. For the second part, “Laboratory of Experimental Technique”, the students head to Bottega Veneta’s Montebello Atelier, where students have practical experience, working with the artisans on pattern-making, construction techniques, various treatments and types of product finishing. The hands-on experience doesn’t just stop here: students enrolled as part of this programme also get to visit the leather tanneries and would also be spending some time at the Bottega Veneta boutiques to experience direct contact with the customers.

Carlo Alberto Beretta, CEO of Bottega Veneta (in the grey jacket in the photo above) comments that “Bottega Veneta[‘s] unwavering commitment to the Veneto region is underscored once again through La Scuola dei Maestri Pellettieri di Bottega Veneta, an investment in our future which protects the cultural roots of the house, while simultaneously contributing to the territory, and bestowing knowledge and know-how to the next generation of artisanal talent”

Images courtesy of Bottega Veneta