Bottega Veneta selected Shanghai's Amanyangyun hotel and Chenshan Botanical Garden as the backdrop for the official China launch of its Winter 2024 collection. The August 29 showcase masterfully blended Bottega Veneta’s Milanese origins with local Chinese heritage settings, for a presentation rich in symbolism. The event attracted an array of the brand’s friends and celebrities including Zhou Yutong, Ou Hao, and Li Zeng, with a emotive performance by Chinese singer-songwriter Yu Mengfei. The choice of venue, an Aman resort just outside of Shanghai, restored from Ming and Qing dynasty village buildings meticulously reassembled brick by brick, nods to craftsmanship and Chinese heritage. The night culminated at a party at the Chenshan Botanical Garden's plant pavilion - a living backdrop of over 1,000 species of succulent plants. The luxurious homeware set stage for the brand's greater lifestyle proposition as Chinese consumers. The fashion collection offered an exploration of the landscapes of the American West, channeling the stark, arid beauty that thrives in the harshest of conditions. Under creative director Matthieu Blazy, shades of red, black and burnt orange came with motifs including the flower, snake, and cactus - all homage to the desert through its textures, tones, and quiet strength. Bottega Veneta's showcase in Shanghai follows successful big budget Chinese runway events from luxury powerhouses like Louis Vuitton, Hermès and Balenciaga in Shanghai, Ami in Suzhou, and Kenzo in Beijing over the past year. Despite challenges facing China’s luxury market, brands recognize that securing a foothold requires local investment and commitment. The inclusion of the brand's luxury homeware range is also worthy of note. With Chinese consumers increasingly favoring understated luxury that whispers rather than shouts, Bottega Veneta’s modern yet timeless ethos might be well positioned to capitalize on the trend.
