Discretion had been the signature of Italian leather goods maker Bottega Veneta long before Tomas Maier took over as the company’s influential creative director in 2001 and banned any sort of logos that have come to define modern luxury goods. “I wanted to create products for people like me, who don’t like logos,” he said at the time, while also restoring the Vicenza, Italy-based brand’s 1970s motto, “When your own initials are enough.” Since then the company has created a number of limited-production pieces?from bags to bookcases?employing Bottega’s proprietary intrecciato woven leather construction technique or made from exotic materials, such as ostrich and alligator, but always devoid of any sort of branding.
The company’s recently expanded Marco Polo collection is no exception. Appropriately named for the 13th-century Venetian explorer, the refined five-piece group of rigid cases, priced from $2,550 to $3,350, is completely handmade from rubberized canvas and features contrasting leather trim, both of which can be customized in your choice of color combinations. Among the Marco Polo collection’s many packing features is a specifically designed case that keeps shirts flat and protected to prevent wrinkles. The company is also offering several new additions to its signature soft-sided intrecciato leather totes and trolleys ($2,300 to $4,500), as well as hard-case luggage sets made of alligator, starting at $25,550. (212.371.5511, www.bottegaveneta.com)
