The poetry of Milan in Bottega Veneta's new FW23 campaign

In the fashion industry, each new season brings with it new inspirations and ideas that come from the most unexpected places - such as the now-famous entryways of Milan's apartment buildings, little gems of vintage architecture often hidden behind anonymous or unrecognizable doorways. Bottega Veneta's FW23 campaign is an embodiment of this spirit: the idea behind the campaign is to portray moving characters inside the entrances of Milanese buildings and on the streets of the city - places that are neither famous nor identifiable but nonetheless beautiful and protagonists of everyone's daily life. These often unnoticed spaces become the protagonists of this visual narrative, underscoring Bottega Veneta's commitment to celebrating the discreet and refined elegance that is an integral part of Italian heritage. Like the collection itself, which revolves around masterfully crafted wardrobe archetypes, the architectural spaces presented in the campaign are designed to become an authentic and tangible part of everyday life. Bottega Veneta creates a deep connection between clothing and the environment in which it is lived, reinforcing the idea that fashion can be an extension of personality and context.

For the campaign, the entrances of Milanese buildings have been transformed into real spaces of social expression and connection. These places, defined by some as "a social microcosm that lies somewhere between the intimacy of one's home and the strangeness of the street," tell the story and soul of the city. This narrative was previously immortalized in the book Entryways of Milan, published by Taschen and edited by Karl Kolbitz now five years ago-a celebrated volume that still populates bookstore shelves and living rooms halfway across the city. This work captured the essence of 144 building entrances built between 1920 and 1970 in Milan, with fascinating photographic work by Matthew Billings, Delfino Sisto Legnani and Paola Pansini.

The campaign continues Bottega Veneta's tradition of collaborating with a team of talented photographers, each contributing their own distinctive style. This season, the photographers involved include Malick Bodian, Louise and Maria Thornfeldt, and Sander Muylaert. This diversity of perspectives is reflected in the images captured, creating a visual mosaic that captures the authenticity and dynamism of the human experience. Adding to the campaign is a film directed by Massimiliano Bomba capturing the energy and vitality of the protagonists as they enter and leave these symbolic places.