They adapt to the personality of their owner

Director of creation of Bottega Veneta since its acquisition by Gucci Group, the German Tomas Maier went the beautiful experiences of style before dropping this key position. Born in Pforzheim in 1957, he moved to Paris at the age of 20 years for the school of the chambre syndicale of sewing courses. He joined the designer Guy Laroche as assistant two years later. And began in 1988 a free lance designer career which led him to draw simultaneously collections for Hermes (women's ready-to-wear), Iceberg and Rykiel men for nearly ten years. In 1998, he went to Miami and launches his own label of swimwear. The originality of its models lies in their sections cut with infinite precision. His name is launched. Magazines sacrent "King of the swimsuit". Tom Ford, who then oversees the style of all the claws of the Gucci Group, sees in this refined German the man for the job to orchestrate the renovation of Bottega Veneta. Five years later, interview in head to head with a Tomas Maier who perfectly fulfilled its mission.

Limited series: in 2001, that is what struck you when you visited the workshops for the first time

THOMAS MAIER: I do not expect to discover such expertise. At this time, the products of Bottega Veneta were not exceptional, but there was this unique way of working and braiding the leather with great care since 1966. I've also seduced by staff who applied to perpetuate these traditions. Venetians are not cheerful, as in the regions of the South or centre of the Italy. It takes time to win their confidence, but are people reliable, friendly, available, and always ready to render service.

S. l.: why have you accepted the position of Creative Director for Bottega Veneta

T. M.: Beyond its know-how and its craftsmen, the House appeared me with tremendous potential for development. His creations have never been signed by a logo or a label, but by their artisanal know-how, their exceptional quality and timeless style. This approach to luxury corresponds to my own vision. I've always loved objects that recognize to their beautiful invoice.

S. l.: is your goal to make a claw of luxury ready-to-wear, like other Italian houses in the leather goods such as Gucci or Prada

T. M.: At Bottega Veneta leather goods will always the heart of our business. The new families of products are in addition to this activity, but no one dresses more foot in a single claw cap. Each seeks to translate his personality into his choices and his clothing associations. For its part, Bottega Veneta always addressed to men and women with strong personalities who know very well what they love, have a certain distance from the latest trends and crack for exception items taking gradually the trademarks of their owner. Today, I am forced to silhouettes for parades. But these are only proposals, never of diktats.

S. l.: wake up a sleeping brand request time

T. M.: It is essential to not rush. Here, the way in which we realize things is as important as the result. If an idea is complicated to form, it takes time to develop it with the necessary attention. It is our definition of luxury.

S. l.: precisely, your approach of brings luxury often the critical position in the wake of Hermes...

T. M.: With Hermès, our only commonalities are quality and a high requirement in the way of doing things. After working for nine years to collections women in this House I am well placed to compare. For even better that I loved this very formative period. But their history as their collections, these two houses are profoundly different in terms of style. Hermes is the world of the upholstery. It uses a robust leather and his bags were a true architecture. At Bottega Veneta, we work the leather gloves for forty years. Our skins are fine and ultra-souples. The forms of our bags collapse and adopt different volumes each day. They adapt to the personality of their owner.

S. l.: early April at the Milan Furniture Fair, Bottega Veneta has embarked on the furniture. Why

T. M.: We were already in the collection of small objects of decoration, the sets of tables and glasses, and scents of Interior. More and more customers asking to buy furniture from our stores. They doing part of the décor, they are actually in our image, but are not for sale. Today, this collection of furniture complements the spirit life style of the claw. It has only auxiliary tables, consoles and screens which divert the idea of the braided leather or metal. It's always the idea of the accessory transplanted in the universe of the House.

S. l.: to even complete its universe of style, will you get quickly perfumes or watch, like any other House of luxury at the present time

T.M.: In the collection of accessories for the House, there is already a travel alarm clock which is a first step in watchmaking. As the launch of perfumes and cosmetics, it is also a logical. It is even the project to which I would like the most. But the cosmetic more than in any other field, he must take his time and find the right partner to develop outstanding products that have their reason of being and speak for themselves at the first smell.