Designer Daniel Lee, 35, has left Bottega Veneta luxury brand. Lee took over the brand in June 2018. As Creative Director, he succeeds Thomas Mayer, who has held this position for 18 years. The designer brought a new intellectual concept to the brand, increased revenue by 9%, made an “ultra-green” trend, created an interactive art magazine, removed Bottega Veneta from social media networks that have caught the attention of the younger generation have made the ugly fishing boots that many have copied.
“My time at Bottega Veneta has been an incredible experience,” Lee said in a statement. “I am grateful to have worked with an exceptional and talented team and I am forever thankful to everyone who was part of creating our vision.”
The abrupt announcement left the fashion world wondering whether Lee was headed for other pastures, but also curious about the future of the brand that has been a keystone of Kering’s pandemic success story.
Today, the brand announced Lee’s successor: Matthieu Blazy, who has been the design director of Bottega since June of 2020. “Matthieu Blazy is an extraordinarily talented individual, whom I am proud and excited to entrust with the creative helm of our luxury House,” Leo Rongone, the CEO of Bottega Veneta, said in a statement. “Bottega Veneta has always been equated with signature craftsmanship and distinctive creativity. Matthieu’s appointment will further enhance the modern relevance of our brand and accelerate our growth, while preserving the values that are at the core of Bottega Veneta.”
Born in Paris in 1984, Matthieu Blazy is a graduate of La Cambre in Brussels. He started his fashion career as Men’s Designer for Raf Simons, before joining Maison Martin Margiela to design the ‘Artisanal’ line and the Women’s RTW show. In 2014, he became Senior Designer at Céline, before working again with Raf Simons at Calvin Klein from 2016 to 2019. He was appointed RTW Design Director at Bottega Veneta in 2020. A French and Belgian national, he lives between Antwerp and Milan.
We can’t wait what Bottega Veneta has in store for us….