bottega for bottegas 2023 honors korean kitemaking, chinese woodwork & more

launching bottega for bottegas 2023 edition

For the third consecutive year, Italian fashion house Bottega Veneta sheds light on small artisanal workshops from around the world with its Bottega for Bottegas initiative. The 2023 edition expands on the brand’s dedication to passing along its global visibility to other experts in artisan-made products. In its first iteration, the initiative featured workshops from Italy. In its second, global artisans were selected to pull inspiration from Italian culture. ‘As one of the world’s most visible bottegas, [we are] committed to supporting other workshops based around the world,’ shares the fashion house.

Cheng Tsung Feng | all images courtesy Bottega Veneta

gathering four expert artisans, from china to italy

The Bottega for Bottegas 2023 edition features four selections by experts of unique craft, each using their creativity and their inimitable skill sets to empower imagination and inspire togetherness. The series begins with Taiwanese artist Cheng Tsung Feng, whose expertise lies in traditional craft culture to learn the methods behind handmade objects of the past. He spends long periods researching areas of culture prone to being forgotten, preserving the techniques while creating artworks of various sizes and forms that are inspired by his learnings. Next up is Liu Wenhui, an artist committed to mastering and preserving the intangible cultural heritage of Chinese woodwork through the research, design, and development of building blocks inspired by ancient Chinese architecture.

Kitai Rhee

The third artefact celebrates Bangpae Yeons, historic Korean kites made with bamboo sticks and a Korean paper called hanji. Third-generation kite artisan Kitai Rhee’s studio is the only bottega in Korea preserving this nineteenth century artisanal craftsmanship of kitemaking. As president of the Kitai Rhee Kite Preservation Association, the master artisan also offers workshops on kitemaking, dedicating himself to nurturing the next generation’s successors. Last but not least, MODIANO completes the series with bespoke playing cards tucked inside a limited-edition Bottega Veneta leather envelope. Founded in 1868 by Saul Modiano, MODIANO is a historic Italian bottega specializing in the design and production of playing cards, tarot cards and other paper products. Its contribution to the craft has made Modiano a leading brand, both in Italy and abroad. From December 2023 onward, the brand’s website, newsletter, and Milan flagship window will pay homage to these four selected bottegas in celebration of craft.

Liu Wenhui