It is easy to take for granted the craftsmanship that goes into making some of the world’s most beautiful luxury products, which makes it all the more fascinating when you have the opportunity to see the process for yourself. Our franchise, Inside The Atelier, celebrates exactly this. For our latest iteration, Bulgari is letting us in on the secrets behind the making of its spectacular handbags from the new creative director of leather goods and accessories, Mary Katrantzou.
“Creating bags for Bulgari involves a meticulous and artisanal process that stands apart from other luxury brands,” Katrantzou tells us. “The commitment to craftsmanship is evident, with every piece being handmade and hand-finished, showcasing dedication to traditional methods in an age of industrialisation. Each bag is designed with the same level of excellence as Bulgari’s jewellery; every detail, from the fine leather to the exquisite construction and the hand painting is meticulously considered.”
The new collection – Katrantzou’s debut – is entitled the ‘Calla’ and features the Serpentine Duo Crystal bag, which is an excellent example of the craftsmanship that the designer talks so passionately about. Around 13,000 crystals are needed to embellish each bag and seven artisans will need to work on it for at least two days before completion – this is luxury handbag manufacture at its finest.
“The design process is heavily influenced by the engineering of Bulgari jewellery, where hardware is not just decorative but integral to the bag’s architecture and functionality,” she adds.
For her first collection, the designer wanted to explore this relationship between jewellery and functional accessories. “It’s a point of distinction for Bulgari,” she says. “I wanted to examine how a piece of jewellery can inform not just the hardware, but the entire architecture and wearability of a bag.”
Katrantzou introduced a new motif, the Calla pattern, which draws inspired from the intricate mosaic floors of the Thermal Baths of Caracalla in Rome, a nod to the same artistic heritage that inspired Bulgari’s ‘Diva’s Dream’ jewellery collection. “The Calla motif features a gracefully curving fan shape that represents femininity and harmony. It’s crafted to complement our signature Serpenti icon, while establishing a unique identity of its own.”
The exquisite detail and high-quality artisanship that goes into the making of this bag, and indeed the whole collection, is what the Bulgari customer expects, Katrantzou explains. “They are precious pieces that resonate with the brand’s distinguished heritage and commitment to excellence.”
Shop the Serpentine Duo, and the rest of the Calla collection, here.
