A NEW CHAPTER

Mary Katrantzou's much-anticipated tryst with Bulgari is all about drawing from history and heritage, and creating a synergy with the brand's distinct and unmistakable identity

- MEHERNAAZ DHONDY

As Bulgari’s first ever Creative Director of Leather Goods and Accessories, Mary Katrantzou’s vision for the brand is clear: She’s here to continue building on what is already established as a category. The success of the ‘Serpenti’ bags has been the ability of that category to tell the story of Bulgari, as the most important icon and symbol of the brand that serves the function of bringing beauty to a woman’s everyday life. Katrantzou wants to continue building on that relatability and the opportunity for women and men to discover the Bulgari universe. She also wants to develop other symbols to exist within this category that highlight a different facet of the brand narrative.

“My role as Creative Director of Leather Goods and Accessories is to constantly have this open dialogue with watches and fine jewellery and take inspiration from what Lucia (Silvestri, Creative Director) and her team are doing,” says the 41-yearold Greek native, who graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design and completed her MA at Central Saint Martins in London. “We’re talking about a brand with a 140-year-old history – it’s not only a great responsibility but also an incredible opportunity,” she explains, “When I’m asked about what’s different about a Bulgari bag, it’s the history that’s different, the symbolism is different, the workmanship that comes from jewellery and is applied into our leather goods is what’s different. When a woman is holding one of our bags, she’s holding a piece of jewellery.”