Sometimes, the destination matters as much as the journey. When designers head to exotic locales to mine for ideas for their moodboards, the result can be vibrant and creative outings that are big on details and inspiration. Take Tomas Maier, whose leather bags at Bottega Veneta borrow heavily from the traditional marquetry craft of the northern Italian town of Rolo. The result is a range of handbags with patchwork details of exotic skins that pay homage to the handiwork of the city’s artisans. Over the next few pages, Imran Jalal highlights what happens when fashion meets travel for Spring/Summer ’16.
For spring/summer ’16, the Spanish label fills its moodboard with well-known myths, areas and architecture of ancient and modern Greece, for a collection of pared-down wardrobe staples.
Travel photo: @montsebrull Instagram
The white, flowy jersey tunics and dresses are a nod to the whitewashed houses of Santorini, while the twisted details on mini skirts and cropped tops will remind you of the draped garments of ancient Grecians. Meanwhile, the prints are familiar Greek motifs: the lips of Caryatides, the Trojan horse and columns.
Travel photo: @gulsinharman Instagram
Any architecture/travel junkie will recognise the rich details of Moroccan architecture that inspires the leather goods by Braun Buffel this season.
Travel photo: @vkeniger Instagram
Arabesque motifs that are usually found in grilles are depicted as laser-cut details on a range of saddle and bucket bags. The geometric tiles of local homes create eye-catching prints for totes and clutches, while the sumptuous lines of the windows of Moroccan homes form the stitching of shoulder bags.
Travel photos: @ghooomo & krttravel Instagram
This northern Italian city is well-known among antique collectors today for its amazing wooden marquetry work that stretches back to the 18th century. The decorative wooden inlay technique from this region is commonly found in furniture like table-tops and cabinets. It’s also the source of inspiration for the geometric patterns of Bottega Veneta’s bags for Spring/Summer ’16.
Travel photos: @paola_scusateiovado & @emanuele_tumidei Instagram
Like the wooden marquetry of floorings found in the palazzos of Rolo, the bags are made up of exotic skins like python and croco that are laser-cut and pressed by hand. The knot clutch alone features 184 different leather patches hand-assembled together.
Travel photo: @matte_re Instagram
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