Worn by the likes of Cate Blanchett, Beyoncé, Lizzo, Michelle Obama, Kylie Minogue, Tracee Ellis Ross, Naomi Campbell, Jane Fonda, Lupita Nyong’o and Zendaya, Mary Katrantzou is known as the “Queen of Print.” This month the Greek fashion designer has applied her unique aesthetic to Bvlgari‘s celebrated Serpenti Forever collection.
‘‘I wanted to first think about what Serpenti meant to me, through my own eyes”, Katrantzou said in a statement. “Serpenti to me is a symbol of femininity, transformation and rebirth, its symbolic nature dating back to Ancient Roman and Greek mythology. The Serpenti sheds its skin to allow for further growth and this idea of metamorphosis became the inspiration for our collaboration. Everyone experiences their own journey of growth and we all go through some type of metamorphosis through life. It is the reason Serpenti holds so much meaning.’’
Through Haute Couture craftsmanship, maximalist style cues and playful jewellery-inspired touches, Katrantzou introduces three new styles – the Serpenti Metamorphosis bag, the Serpenti Metamorphosis Handle bag and the Serpenti Metamorphosis minaudière. The three luxury pieces make up the next chapter in the “Serpenti Through the Eyes of” saga, conceptualised by the Roman jeweller.
To truly understand the extent of detail applied on each piece is to appreciate the hours of work needed to hand-make each style. Each Serpenti Metamorphosis bag takes a skilled artisan of the Montex Atelier in Paris and the Bvlgari manufacture in Florence more than 40 hours to make. The three-dimensional embroidery is perhaps most reflective of the designer’s own work, its whimsical print depicting a spectacular flurry of butterflies which emerge from a coiled snake.
The Serpenti Metamorphosis Handle bag features a soft nappa body and the Serpenti head which evolves into a full body for to form the bag’s stunning gold handle. For added versatility and true to the notion of “metamorphosis”, it can transform into a crossbody style by removing the handle and attaching an exquisite golden chain strap.
Lastly, Katrantzou draws design cues from the Bvlgari Serpenti watch, thus making it the first to be translated into a minaudière. The scales of a snake are reimagined by black and white hexagons meticulously layered to form a serpent head.
The accompanying campaign is lensed by French fashion photographer Hugo Comte and modelled by Russian philanthropist and beauty icon Natalia Vodianova, wearing Haute Couture jumpsuits especially created by Mary Katrantzou for the occasion.
‘‘I immediately knew Natalia had to be the face,” says Katrantzou. “We both felt it would be wonderful to also partner with her charity, the Naked Heart Foundation to support their cause and communicate with our collaboration about the power of design to be meaningful. Her grace, generosity of spirit and compassion embodied all the values Bvlgari and I stand for. She is a mother, a wife, an entrepreneur and a philanthropist and to me that’s the face of strength.”
The collection also features a series of limited-edition scarves. Shope Mary Katrantzou x Bvlgari, here.
