For more than a century, it's been known for its much-coveted jewellery. From Cannes to Hollywood and Venice, celebrities have, over the years, worn from its many collections to bling up their red carpet appearances and often, their glamourous gowns.
Now, Italian luxury brand Bvlgari wants to add a bit more colour to its leather accessories collection.
As announced earlier in July, the company yesterday unveiled the much-awaited capsule collection of handbags designed by British fashion designer Matthew Williamson for spring-summer 2011 on the sidelines of the Milan Fashion Week.
tabloid! was given an exclusive sneak peek into the collection, the result of a first collaboration between the fine jewellery maker and a fashion designer. Featuring intense colours and interesting geometric lines, the collection — a selection of hobo bags, totes and minaudières (ornamental cases for women's cosmetics) — is striking in both its form and choice of materials.
"I wanted to create a particular kaleidoscope drawn from the Bvlgari heritage in fine jewellery whilst also attaining a modern, contemporary feel," explains Williamson, who used luxury embossed leathers in a jewel palette of sapphire, emerald and rubellite to create the collection.
"I have a passion for luxury materials and fine detailing and I was excited to inject my use of prints and intense colour combinations to the brand," he says in an interview.
The celebrated designer, known for his bright electric colours, said he was keen to take up the creative challenge of combining both brands' aesthetics.
"We both admire the rich tradition of craftsmanship and the use of luxury materials. I like how Bvlgari conjures up the notions of glamour and elegance, which is translated to a modern audience. I try to do this only using shapes and colours and textures," he says.
Francesco Trapani, the CEO of Bvlgari says his company chose the designer for his "great sense of colour and design".
"That resonates with our brand's rich history. The collection's design fuses together the core strengths of both Bvlgari and Matthew Williamson brands and merges our sense of luxury with fine leathers and Italian craftsmanship and his modern fashion sense and colour."
Bvlgari's push into leather accessories since 2008 has grown significantly over the years and now features five predominantly lines. Earlier this year, the company unveiled a handbag designed by Italian actress and former model Isabella Rossellini during Paris Fashion Week. The rectangular tote, available in four materials, each featuring a different art deco-inspired enamel clasp with a twist lock made from semi-precious stones is now available in store.
"After a series of informal brainstorming sessions where I brought in an old Andy Warhol cigarette holder and several drawings that I had done, things got a bit more serious," Rossellini joked at the launch in Paris. The actress' doodles also line the interior of the bags.
Free hand
Williamson, meanwhile, says he was given a free hand.
"The team gave me creative freedom and were looking for me to introduce my aesthetic. I think they thought it would resonate with the brand's history in design and this was perfect for me because I enjoyed fitting my style with theirs."
This is not the designer's first collaboration though. He has, in the past, created collections for Swedish fast fashion brand H&M and British retailer Debenhams besides his own eponymous label, which he co-owns with partner Joseph Velosa.
"I enjoy collaborative projects and in particular working with new teams of creatives which can be inspiring and teach me new things," he says. "For the customer, an injection of external talent can add a new dimension into the product range."
Williamson first shot to the limelight during his stint at British retailer Monsoon, before starting his own label. He also had a short stint as creative director of LVMH-owned Pucci in 2006, choosing later to focus on his label.
And now, after designing a capsule menswear collection for high-end British department store Harrods earlier this year, Williamson says he is ready to go all the way.
"I decided to expand the idea and I have just finished creating my full menswear collection for spring-summer 2011. It is great after all these years to be able to actually wear the clothes that I design," he says.
The collection, he adds, will be available from February 2011.
A celebrity favourite, Williamson, more than anything, knows all too well the influence of stars in showcasing designer creations.
"I do tend to be linked with high profile female celebrities, however these girls are often friends of mine who want to wear my designs simply because they love them," he says. "I am drawn to people who have a great sense of fun and adventure, and this type of women often have a sense of confidence which allows them to wear clothes such as mine, with bold colours and exciting prints.
The recession, he says, has dramatically changed his outlook, "but in a positive way".
"It has allowed me to become more resourceful and explore new ideas in various ways. Hopefully the collections have become stronger over the years, season to season," he says.
"My collections have retained key elements of my aesthetic throughout my career, for example the use of colour and prints have become a signature. However in recent years I've experimented with silhouette and introduced a more urban outlook into the designs."
No stranger to the UAE, Williamson is aware of his growing popularity in the Middle East.
"I have visited Dubai, both for business and pleasure, and found that the glamour and vibrancy of my designs are popular with Middle Eastern women as they dress with a sense of confidence and flamboyance; they aren't afraid to experiment with colour within their wardrobe."
