Tomas Maier Leaves Bottega Veneta After 17 Years
The brand’s longstanding creative director was known for his pared-back aesthetic and high-quality fabrics
Tomas Maier is leaving Bottega Veneta after 17 years at the luxury label. Although the reasons for his departure have not been revealed, Kering – the company that owns Bottega – said that a successor would be named “in due course”.
“It’s largely due to Tomas’s high-level creative demands that Bottega Veneta became the house it is today,” François-Henri Pinault, the chairman and chief executive officer of Kering, said in a statement, as published in the New York Times.
“He put it back on the luxury scene and made it an undisputed reference. With his creative vision, he magnificently showcased the expertise of the house’s artisans. I am deeply grateful to him and I personally thank him for the work he accomplished, and for the exceptional success he helped to achieve.”
Maier was known for his understated approach to luxury and for using quality fabrics and materials that elevated his collections. He offered an alternative to logos and brash branding, and fans included Amal Clooney, Penelope Cruz and Kristin Scott Thomas.
The designer joined Bottega in 2001, not long after Kering had acquired the brand. He started by creating desirable accessories that went beyond ‘It’ bag status with timeless styles that exuded modern luxe. In 2005, he presented his first ready-to-wear collection, and his work became a byword for good taste.