“May I have an Andiamo to go, please?”
When it comes to the definition of ‘cool’, it’s hard to come to a consensus, but having an air of nonchalance seems to be a trait almost everyone can agree on. And that nonchalance when translated into a bag, culminates into the Bottega Veneta Andiamo. As we wait for the new era led by Louise Trotter to unfold, here’s a closer look at the Andiamo that has reached iconic status in no time at all.
When the Andiamo made its first appearance in the Summer 2023 collection, its presence was magnetic. Familiar design codes of the House are spotted, including the unmistakable intrecciato leather, and the return of the signature knot – in metal – as a hook. Yet, the way these emblems of the House were employed, were unmistakably contemporary, and cool.
When the Andiamo first landed, it came in three sizes – small, medium and large. The colours the bag came in were sumptuous: Glacier (a very light teal), Fondant (dark brown), Barolo (a rich maroon), Travertine (beige green), Inkwell (dark blue), Ice Cream (light pale yellow) and White. It was a carry-all made for everybody – with the option to wear it handheld, over the shoulder, or on the arm – and the palette this new bag came in welcomed all into the world of Andiamo.
This new expression of the signature intrecciato technique, accomplished by the craftsmanship of the brand’s atelier, manifested ‘craft in motion’ – the founding principle of Matthieu Blazy’s creative reign at Bottega Veneta. The name of the bag itself indicates movement: Andiamo is Italian for “Let’s go”, and the world certainly took that invitation seriously, because the bag is indeed going places.
Since its debut, the bag has since made its presence felt way beyond the runway – seen on personalities like Jacob Elordi, RM, Dakota Johnson, Dew, and Thanaerng. In all its iterations, the style statement speaks of effortlessness.
The effortless beauty of the Andiamo lies in its ability to remain clean and structural while providing just the right amount of slouch to exude the cool nonchalance discussed earlier. It became the choice for “the everyday bag, but elevated”. Its soft tapered volume was not just arresting, it also spoke of pragmatism – a bag that is as functional as it is fashionable. The Andiamo strikes the perfect balance with its well considered compartments and structure; it is roomy without the bulk, sleek without the stuffiness.
In the following summer of 2024, the Andiamo, in brown and beige tones, continued to work its charm in a mix of washed Bristol calfskin and canvas. A little bit of background on Bristol calfskin – this leather, sourced in France, undergoes a unique ageing, washing and manual brushing process that gives it a natural look with a firm structure that is gentle to the touch. The choice of leather thus provides a textural contrast to the heavy-duty canvas.
The Andiamo family continues expanding into new territory: interpreted in an East-West silhouette, and taking the forms of a backpack, messenger bag and clutch. The possibilities seem to be endless – in terms of design, functionality and style. The Andiamo clutch, in particular, is an unforgettable style that works its way into both casual and formal settings.
In Pre-Spring and Summer 2025, for example, we saw the Andiamo Voyager play with proportions, contrast and symmetry. The large Andiamo Voyage, for one, was reimagined in a striking half-and-half design where two colours of canvas are vertically sewn together in the centre to form the bag body while two colours of Bristol leather are joined together at the same point at the trims and handles.
Bold moves like this were also met with tributes to Bottega Veneta’s original expertise in crafting smooth and supple leather. That purity in craft was highlighted in the introduction of the Andiamo in Silky Calf leather. Stunningly thin and soft, with a subtle natural grain, the softness of the leather is enhanced through innovative methods of tanning, drum dyeing, and dry-tumbling. More slouch is thus introduced, in an understated expression of style where the softness of the material allows the bag to be worn agape, such that the Intrecciato pocket can be seen from the outside. But the iconic coaxial braid strap and signature knot remained, as always.
Just when you think you’ve seen it all, the Andiamo shows that it too, can be whimsical as it embraces a patchwork landscape with different figures and animals in a jolly countryside scene. For this touch of whimsy, a total of 98 elements in 19 different colours and five types of Nappa leather in various prints and finishes were involved, yet another show not just of the Andiamo’s versatility but also the prowess of the House’s expert artisans.
It’s 2025, and the Andiamo keeps its cool. Perhaps it is the spirit of movement, the invitation to move someplace together – “Let’s go”, the Andiamo beckons, and we are drawn to the pull of its every iteration.
Images courtesy of Bottega Veneta, artwork by Curatedition. All rights reserved.
Related links:
Bottega Veneta: On the Language of Craft
Bags to Bag: Soft and Slouchy Does It
Bags to Bag: A Colour-Coded Guide
Fendi Hand in Hand: Made with heart, by hand
