Renowned Greek designer Mary Katrantzou, known for her vibrant and intricate designs in the late 2000s and 2010s, has joined Bulgari as its inaugural creative director for leather goods and accessories. This role is freshly established,in this exciting position, Katrantzou will craft a diverse array of products for Bulgari, spanning from everyday leather bags to unique high-jewelry pieces.
Having collaborated with Bulgari in 2021 and feeling a cultural bond due to their shared Greek heritage with founder Sotirio Bulgari, Mary Katrantzou was inspired to create a capsule collection for the brand after they loaned jewelry for her show at the Temple of Poseidon in Athens. This collection featured bags influenced by Bulgari’s renowned serpent motif. Building on this experience, Katrantzou will now elevate her involvement with the brand to a higher level.
WHO IS MARY KATRANTZOU?
Hailing from Athens, Mary Katrantzou pursued her passion for design by studying Architecture at the Rhode Island School of Design in the USA. She then honed her skills further, earning a BA in Textile Design and an MA in Fashion from Central Saint Martins in London, crafting her journey from structures to stunning fashion creations.Mary Katrantzou’s groundbreaking 2008 graduation show, showcasing trompe l’oeil prints of large jewelry on jersey-bonded dresses, captivated the industry and quickly attracted renowned stockists like Browns, Joyce, and Colette. Since then, she has launched her eponymous brand and expanded her reach to over 100 upscale retailers including Selfridges, Matchesfashion.com, Harrods, and Bergdorf Goodman.
Mary Katrantzou earned the title “The Queen of Print” from the press, acknowledging her immense impact on the world of fashion through her innovative use of prints. Her influence has been profound, reshaping contemporary fashion and serving as an inspiration to designers across both high-end and mainstream markets. Mary Katrantzou has been honored with several prestigious awards during her career. Notably, she received the Swiss Textiles Award in 2010 for her innovative textile treatments and the British Fashion Award for Emerging Talent in November 2011.
She also won the Young Designer of the Year at the Elle Style Awards in February 2012. In 2015, she was awarded the Vogue Designer Fashion Fund, Glamour Designer of the Year, Harper’s Bazaar Breakthrough Designer, and the British Fashion Award for New Establishment Designer. Mary Katrantzou was recognized as Vogue India’s Designer of the Decade for the 00s in 2019.
MARY KATRANTZOU CONNECTION TO BULGARI
Mary Katrantzou’s relationship with Bulgari began in 2019 when the renowned jewelry brand lent her their exquisite necklaces, bracelets, and earrings for a spectacular fashion show at the Temple of Poseidon in Athens. This connection deepened further in 2020 when Cate Blanchett graced the Golden Globes wearing a stunning jeweled bodice gown from Katrantzou’s collection.
However, her bond with Bulgari extends beyond recent collaborations. Sharing Greek heritage with the brand’s founder, Sotirio Bulgari, Katrantzou’s connection traces back to her childhood, recalling a coffee table book on Bulgari’s history and receiving a Bulgari watch as a cherished high school graduation gift from her father. This shared heritage and passion for craftsmanship and vibrant colors have now culminated in Katrantzou’s appointment as Bulgari’s first-ever Creative Director of Leather Goods and Accessories, a role that reflects her deep-rooted connection and commitment to excellence.
Katrantzou expressed deep honor in her role as the first Creative Director of BVLGARI Leather Goods and Accessories, guiding the creative vision for this fresh chapter and transforming the mundane into an artistic endeavor. Mary Katrantzou expressed to Vogue that the transition to Bulgari marks a fresh chapter for her, noting that immersing herself in a distinct culture from her own company has been highly inspirational. She highlighted the rapid pace at which ideas can materialize into prototypes, emphasizing the gratification this brings to creatives.
When the pandemic began, Katrantzou made the shift from London to Athens. Her upcoming position will involve a dynamic routine, shuttling between Athens, Bulgari’s design studios in Florence, and their offices in Rome. All the while, she’ll also oversee operations for her own brand, based in London. For more information you can refer to this Vogue article.
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