Bottega Veneta goes eclectic for Milan show

Bottega Veneta showed off an eclectic spring/summer 2012 collection at Milan Fashion Week on Saturday featuring a riot of textures and lush colours that left observers spellbound.

"This season we wanted to make clothes with a sense of freedom and high spirits," said the French-owned fashion house's creative director, German Tomas Maier, who has helped boost the label since taking over in 2001.

"There is a certain joy in this profusion of colours and textures, a strength that comes from unusual pieces that are beautifully made and not easily categorised," said Maier, who previously worked at Hermes.

The new lineup for the label's signature handbags was similarly varied including leathers from python, cobra, ostrich and karung snake.

The blends of wool and silk, wool and viscose, and silk and polyester on the clothes helped give the fabrics unexpected weights and weaves.

Some of the strong points of the collection were corset dresses with pleated skirts, as well as dresses with leather trims and glossy jackets.

The colours stood out from some of the other main collections - including shades of indigo, blood red, emerald green and burnt orange.

The collection as a whole emphasised a sense of craftsmanship that is a key selling point for the label and for the Made in Italy brand in general.