Intimate Bottega Veneta Show in Milan featuring Patti Smith's captivating performance

Yesterday evening, Patti Smith graced the stage at Bottega Veneta's fashion week event in Milan, Italy. The iconic musician and poet delivered a moving performance that paid tribute to her late husband, Fred 'Sonic' Smith.

The event, titled 'Correspondences', was curated by Louise Trotter, the new creative director of Bottega Veneta. This marked a significant moment in the luxury sphere, as Trotter became one of the rare female creative directors of a major house.

During the performance, Smith recited a poem about Carlo Mollino, an Italian architect, race car designer, pilot, and photographer who passed away in 1973. Mollino's work and life have left a lasting impact, with his iconic buildings such as the Casa del Sole in Cervinia and the Teatro Regio in Turin, and his extensive archive of over 1000 erotic Polaroids discovered posthumously in his apartment.

These Polaroids were later exhibited at Gagosian and Kunsthalle Vienna, showcasing Mollino's unique artistic vision. A symbolic motif from Mollino's apartment, butterflies, was recreated by Bottega Veneta artisans in the HQ's entranceway, adding a touch of his essence to the new headquarters within Palazzo San Fedele.

Smith's performance was a poignant moment, especially as it took place on the 45th anniversary of her wedding to Fred 'Sonic' Smith, who died in 1994 from heart failure. Smith wrote about her encounter with Smith in her book M Train.

The collaboration between Trotter and Soundwalk Collective, a contemporary sonic arts platform, for the event was a fitting choice, given Trotter's design language developed during her tenures at Joseph and Lacoste. Bottega Veneta maintained a presence at Milan Fashion Week ahead of Trotter's debut show in September, which is highly anticipated following the creative (and commercial) renaissance brought about by Daniel Lee from 2018 to 2022.

Louise Trotter's appointment at Bottega Veneta follows Matthieu Blazy's move to Chanel, signalling an exciting new chapter for both fashion houses.

Intimate Bottega Veneta Show in Milan featuring Patti Smith's captivating performance