Neneh Cherry’s spoken word performance marked the beginning of the Bottega Veneta Spring Summer 2021 show held at Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London. The show was a secret fashion event, attended by only a handful of people, including North and Kanye West, British rapper Skepta, playwright Sheila Atim, and Michael Clark. Daniel Lee, the creative director of the brand, wanted to create a particularly intimate show, which is why only a select few people were invited.
Cherry’s performance was a haunting and emotive addition to the show, which was otherwise minimalist and sensual. The collection was presented in a futuristic, very green location, and the clothing was shown to a small audience. The focus of the show was to keep it intimate and understated, with an avant-garde musical interlude.
To reach a wider audience, Bottega Veneta sent out packages to select fashion professionals. These packages contained a green record with the spoken word performance of Neneh Cherry and two different books, Book 1 and Book 2. The first book was a farewell to the muses of the brand, while the second book was more complex and dealt with the importance of wearing clothes. It was written by Rosemarie Trockel, who is a wool art student and focuses on knitwear. The book is a feminist statement that emphasizes the importance of the process of making clothes.
“Daniel had the idea that I should not sing, but just speak, tokeep it close and intimate, as a reflection of the journey we have embarked onthis year” Said Cherry, who even performed her haunting performance live.There was hardly anything unpredictable about the very minimalist, yet sensualshow besides this avant-garde musical interlude. Daniel Lee wanted to keep thepresentation of this collection particularly intimate, which is why a veryspecial way of communicating with journalists and co. was devised.
The photographs of the show, which was presented in a tiny scale, are contained in the third book. The photographs were taken by Tyrone Lebon, who has been in close contact with Daniel Lee for a long time. The show’s styling focused on the mule shoe shape, which was reminiscent of the collaboration between Ugg and Eckhaus Latta in the last collection. The cut of the evening dresses and the focus on knitwear were also similar to Eckhaus Latta’s collection. While Bottega Veneta has been successful in the fashion industry, it should be careful not to get off track with such obvious maneuvers.
The staging of the show and the package itself, reminiscent of the original presentation of Prêt-à-porter shows, was a feast for the eyes. Kaya Wilkins aka Okay Kaya opened the show with her gentle figure and understated smile, exuding a positive energy that set the tone for the entire collection. In addition to Kaya, the show also featured Adwoa Aboah, Edie Campbell, and Barbara Valente, who strutted down the catwalk with grace.
The Bottega Veneta Spring Summer 2021 show was an understated, minimalist, and avant-garde presentation of the brand’s new collection. The spoken word performance of Neneh Cherry, the exclusive audience, and the unique packaging of the collection set this show apart and created a truly artistic experience for all those involved.
Photos courtesy of Bottega Veneta
