Bottega Veneta Launches ‘Kraft’ Handbag Collection Made From 100% Recycled Paper

Bottega Veneta has recently launched a new line of handbags made from 100% recycled FSC-certified cardboard paper to keep up with the sustainable fashion trend. The Kering-owned luxury accessories label, which has been led by former Celine designer Daniel Lee since 2018, has been ramping up its green initiatives in recent years as demand for more eco-friendly fashion options continues to grow. 

Bottega Veneta is taking a step away from its classic woven design and has debuted a new collection of handbags made using 100% recycled FSC-certified cardboard paper. Dubbed the “Kraft Paper”, the latest line remakes some of the label’s most iconic bag designs with recycled and recyclable paper, giving the final product a naturally crumpled look. 

The raw material itself has been treated with aliphatic polyurethane film and microfibre fabric, which gives the paper-based bag extra protection and waterproof qualities. Most of the bags in the collection are supported with a magnetic frame and lined with calf leather, which makes them not vegan-friendly, cruelty-free or low-carbon choices, but a step forward nonetheless for a luxury brand to leap into using circular materials. 

As with all of Bottega Veneta’s products, the latest additions will come at a hefty price tag, with the Kraft Paper collection retailing from US$1,150 to US$21,000. It is currently available at all Bottega Veneta stores and on its website. 

The launch of the new (more) sustainable line of handbags comes as the brand’s parent company, Kering, is making major strides in greening its operations in response to consumer outcry over the responsibility of the fashion industry in pollution, waste and the climate crisis. 

Over the past few years, the global luxury fashion group has made clear its intentions to put sustainability at the forefront of its strategy, from hosting a sustainability-focused conference during Shanghai Fashion Week last year, to most recently appointing celebrity actress-activist Emma Watson to its board of directors and chair of the sustainability committee. 

Bottega Veneta has previously debuted 100% biodegradable boots made from coffee and sugarcane on the runway.

Other luxury fashion labels have too launched their own sustainable initiatives and collections, including Diane Von Furstenburg, who launched a circular rental subscription service earlier this year in a bid to lengthen the lifespan of garments and reduce textile waste. Upmarket department store Selfridges has also positioned itself as a company that will embrace circularity, announcing its intentions to introduce more recycled, resale and repair models and pledging to ensure all materials in its business comes from certified sustainable sources. 

All images courtesy of Bottega Veneta.