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Consider it a high-fashion case of the mountain coming to Mohammed: last Friday night, Bottega Veneta brought a very special, rarely-seen piece of its Milan magic to Melbourne.
To be specific, the storied luxury fashion house transported dozens of exquisite bags, totes, clutches and its gender-neutral fine fragrance range (we’re talking up to $450 a bottle) to the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art for its invite-only Masters of Craft event.
But while being in an installation space filled with collectibles – both iconic and new – with wine in hand has all the makings of a fine night out, what made the event truly impressive were the live demonstrations by artisans from the house’s famous atelier in Montebello Vicentino.
The VIP guest list on the night was just as noteworthy. Actors Rachel Griffiths and Sigrid Thornton rubbed shoulders with Archibald Packing Room Prize winner Jamie Priesz and his stylist partner Kitty Callaghan, fellow artist Stanislava Pinchuk, polo royalty Janek Gazekci and his editor wife Natalie Decorte, influencers Yach Bol, Jasper Xu and Rozalia Russian, model Juliana Forge, and several hundred more local and interstate VIPS, editors and key customers.
Australia is one of just a handful of countries to have been exposed over the years to this kind of insider showcase of Bottega Veneta’s famously chic, logo-free leather products.
If you’re feeling FOMO right, we’re sorry to say this was a one-night-only affair; both products and artisans were safely on their way back to Italy just days after.
Granted, it was a slick party, but what was the true purpose of the high-style soiree?
To drive home the intense and often painstaking craftsmanship, high-luxe materials and history that drives the Bottega Veneta products’ often hefty price tag. After all, if you want the best of luxury and timeless style, it should cost a little extra.
GALLERY: Some of the guests at the Bottega Veneta Masters of Craft Event
GRAZIA flew to Melbourne as a guest of Bottega Veneta.