“Creative” and “director” are- probably the two words we have been reading and listening to mostly on the fashion world in the last weeks. This Tuesday (2nd), Bulgari announced its first-ever creative director of leather goods and accessories: Mary Katrantzou.
“When does something change from being considered adornment to being functional and what can we do in that in-between space? That’s where the mind-blowing Bulgari archive comes in. Studying the originals and seeing how they can be transformed and seeing this category as a creative lab to do it—that to me is incredible”, says Mary Katrantzou.
Her new role at Bulgari involves designing various types of bags, including everyday leather bags, elegant silk bags, and unique, high-end jewelry bags. Born in Greece and now based in London, Katrantzou quickly gained recognition after graduating from Central Saint Martins in the late 2000s.She made a name for herself by pioneering a new printing technique known as digital placement printing, which was innovative at the time. With a keen interest in jewelry from the beginning, her early work displayed a deep fascination with adornment.Her collection for her Master of Arts degree in Fashion Design was swiftly picked up by the luxury store Browns.
It featured incredibly lifelike paintings that deceived the eye, depicting necklaces in a realistic manner. Her later collections were described as being as ornate and exquisite as Fabergé eggs, positioning Katrantzou as a highly creative and talented figure in the fashion industry. Katrantzou’s relationship with Bulgari began in 2019 when Bulgari lent her jewelry for a fashion show at the Temple of Poseidon. In 2021, Katrantzou designed a collection of handbags and minaudières inspired by Bulgari’s Serpenti motif, further cementing their collaboration.
“It’s a new chapter, and being around a completely different culture than my own company has been so inspiring. The speed with which an idea can be realized and a prototype can be made is extremely rewarding for any creative.”
Mary Katrantzou’s first designed pieces for Bulgari arrive in stores later this year, in August.