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A definitive guide to men&#039;s premium fashion and lifestyle, as well as Hollywood celebrities.

DA MAN Magazine - Make Your Own Style!

<h2>FOR PASSION WITH PATIENCE. Bottega Veneta’s Tomas Maier touches on the brand’s 50th anniversary and reveals his inspiring personal perspectives on what passion for fashion really requires</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-49107 aligncenter" src="https://backend.daman.co.id/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/TM-SS13-Portrait-Peter-Lindbergh-High-edit.jpg" alt="tomas maier" width="630" height="420" srcset="https://backend.daman.co.id/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/TM-SS13-Portrait-Peter-Lindbergh-High-edit.jpg 630w, https://backend.daman.co.id/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/TM-SS13-Portrait-Peter-Lindbergh-High-edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https://backend.daman.co.id/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/TM-SS13-Portrait-Peter-Lindbergh-High-edit-315x210.jpg 315w" sizes="(max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px" />
Long before he became the creative driving force of <a href="http://daman.co.id/?s=Bottega+Veneta" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bottega Veneta</a>, Tomas Maier had already been a force to be reckoned with. Schooled at the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture in Paris, he has worked with legends like Guy Laroche and designed for storied fashion houses, <a href="http://daman.co.id/?s=Herm%C3%A8s" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hermès</a>. It was in 2001 when Bottega Veneta tapped him as the brand’s creative director with total creative control over everything from product design to advertising to store design. This proved to be a most fortunate choice as Maier wasted no time in returning Bottega Veneta to its roots, thus turning it into the luxury lifestyle brand it is today. More than 15 years later, and coinciding with the brand’s 50th anniversary, he once again showcased his true colors with a spring/summer collection to remember.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-49109 aligncenter" src="https://backend.daman.co.id/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/BV-Bts-2402_CMYK.jpg" alt="Tomas Maier" width="630" height="420" srcset="https://backend.daman.co.id/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/BV-Bts-2402_CMYK.jpg 630w, https://backend.daman.co.id/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/BV-Bts-2402_CMYK-300x200.jpg 300w, https://backend.daman.co.id/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/BV-Bts-2402_CMYK-315x210.jpg 315w" sizes="(max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px" />
Models wearing pastel-toned suits at the backstage
DA MAN: Let’s talk about Bottega Veneta’s spring/summer 2017 collection. The patches of leather for the bags, shoes and jackets of the collection are definitely exciting. Do you believe that good fashion design must always include some sort of geometric elements like these? 
Tomas Maier: I always like making things simple. A sweater and shirt, a shirt and a pair of pants—this is what I like. It’s simple, but of course it’s incredibly sophisticated. Many of the clothes have leather details that can be detached. They give a graphic element that widens the hips and makes the bust look smaller.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-49110 aligncenter" src="https://backend.daman.co.id/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/BV-Bts-0052_CMYK.jpg" alt="Tomas Maier" width="630" height="420" srcset="https://backend.daman.co.id/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/BV-Bts-0052_CMYK.jpg 630w, https://backend.daman.co.id/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/BV-Bts-0052_CMYK-300x200.jpg 300w, https://backend.daman.co.id/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/BV-Bts-0052_CMYK-315x210.jpg 315w" sizes="(max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px" />
Models wearing pastel-toned suits at the backstage
DA MAN: What was the most difficult part of creating this particular collection? 
Tomas Maier: As a designer, it is about creating a very deliberate mix of the mental and the physical. I want to design things that combine intellect, emotion, craft and functionality, having in mind our clients who are confident and sophisticated men, who express their personality with individualism. They are such a challenge to make and are so complex, and I love that the result looks so super-simple. That is how the best design should be: invisible.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-49112 aligncenter" src="https://backend.daman.co.id/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/456990_VFCAZ_4073_UC327771.jpg" alt="Tomas Maier" width="630" height="375" srcset="https://backend.daman.co.id/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/456990_VFCAZ_4073_UC327771.jpg 630w, https://backend.daman.co.id/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/456990_VFCAZ_4073_UC327771-300x179.jpg 300w, https://backend.daman.co.id/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/456990_VFCAZ_4073_UC327771-315x188.jpg 315w" sizes="(max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px" />
A boot with leather patches
DA MAN: Compared to the outgoing fall/winter collection, this one tends to appear more relaxed and casual. What was it that you wanted to get across from this particular collection? 
Tomas Maier: This collection marks the 50th anniversary of the brand, and we wanted to celebrate by staying true to the essence of Bottega Veneta. For me, it is always about simple and easy things that are special for those people who appreciate them. The hard work in their creation is invisible to the eye, and the result a pleasure to wear.

DA MAN: You famously mentioned in an interview that you normally start designing from colors before moving to shapes. Can you elaborate? 
Tomas Maier: Color is always my starting point in the creative process. I create a color palette, not general shades but specific, precise hues, then pass on to material which naturally leads to shape and construction.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-49113 aligncenter" src="https://backend.daman.co.id/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/461518_VE2Q1_1091_UC327767.jpg" alt="Tomas Maier" width="630" height="420" srcset="https://backend.daman.co.id/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/461518_VE2Q1_1091_UC327767.jpg 630w, https://backend.daman.co.id/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/461518_VE2Q1_1091_UC327767-300x200.jpg 300w, https://backend.daman.co.id/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/461518_VE2Q1_1091_UC327767-315x210.jpg 315w" sizes="(max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px" />
A backpack with a similar patched look
DA MAN: And what do you usually do when you’re creating a whole new look? 
Tomas Maier: It is not my intention to dictate rules of dressing. I simply stay true to my own sense of aesthetics and value and trust that others will share and appreciate my sensibility and work. It is important that each element is crafted to enhance an individual’s own style, and to be a part of their life for a long time.
DA MAN: Are there significant differences in the way you approach designing Bottega Veneta’s men’s, women’s or home collections? 
Tomas Maier: My approach to furniture design is very much in line with my approach to clothing: To blend discretion with a personal understanding of luxury and provide our clients with the highest quality material and construction. All of our collections have grown throughout the years and today they all offer a full range of pieces that appeal to the owner’s individual sense of style.
<h3>“That is how the best design should be: invisible”</h3>
DA MAN: You often mention that architectural work inspires you. How does it influence your designs? 
Tomas Maier: Both art and architecture have always been a source of inspiration for me, even if not literally. I have a personal and deep appreciation of art and architecture, and I strongly believe in the importance of protecting culture as a substantial part of our history and heritage. In respecting it, we have an opportunity of growth and evolution, thus bringing our stories to the next step.
DA MAN: On a related note, what is your favorite architectural work? 
Tomas Maier: I have moved around a great deal, but an unforgettable place I’ve traveled to is the Benesse Art Site on Naoshima and its surrounding islands. It is beautiful on an architectural level because it is incorporated and displayed in a beautiful way, harmonious with the landscape.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-49114 aligncenter" src="https://backend.daman.co.id/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/SS17_retouched_Look-31_HR.jpg" alt="Tomas Maier" width="630" height="945" srcset="https://backend.daman.co.id/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/SS17_retouched_Look-31_HR.jpg 630w, https://backend.daman.co.id/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/SS17_retouched_Look-31_HR-200x300.jpg 200w, https://backend.daman.co.id/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/SS17_retouched_Look-31_HR-315x473.jpg 315w" sizes="(max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px" />
Sleek and deep hues also fill the suits on the runway
DA MAN: Going back to the 50th anniversary of the house, what do you think should people remember about the house when discussing such an important milestone? 
Tomas Maier: <a href="http://daman.co.id/?s=Bottega+Veneta" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bottega Veneta</a> is about the craftspeople. They are the ones with the knowledge, and they are at the heart of the brand. This collection reveals their work at its absolute best.
DA MAN: Why do you think it is this the right time to combine the men’s and women’s shows? 
Tomas Maier: In 2016, I celebrated my 15th anniversary as creative director as well as the 50th anniversary of the founding of the house. So, I really wanted to organize a special show to celebrate these two milestones that are particularly meaningful to me, and to also take the opportunity to widely gather contributors and supporters of Bottega Veneta. As for the decision of showing the women’s and men’s collections together, we realize our universe is built on both genders. Therefore, showing both women and men together is an organic move that follows the evolution of my creative vision.
DA MAN: How would you sum up the evolution of your design for the brand throughout those 15 years? 
Tomas Maier: I think my vision for the brand hasn’t changed since I joined, but it has certainly evolved. With everything we have created over the last 15 years, we are in a completely different place. It has been, and continues to be, a challenge for us, and we like bringing it to a certain level of being unexpected. Even when somebody says “it’s never been done,” there’s always a solution.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-49111 aligncenter" src="https://backend.daman.co.id/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/SS17_retouched_Look-50_HR.jpg" alt="Tomas Maier" width="630" height="945" srcset="https://backend.daman.co.id/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/SS17_retouched_Look-50_HR.jpg 630w, https://backend.daman.co.id/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/SS17_retouched_Look-50_HR-200x300.jpg 200w, https://backend.daman.co.id/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/SS17_retouched_Look-50_HR-315x473.jpg 315w" sizes="(max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px" />
A model showcasing a leather-patched bag
DA MAN: Who did you look up to when you started designing for the brand? 
Tomas Maier: There are many people who have inspired me from different points of view. On a professional level, those that I have worked for or have worked with: From Sonia Rykiel, I learned the importance of believing in your own vision. From <a href="http://daman.co.id/?s=Jean-Louis+Dumas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jean-Louis Dumas</a>, at <a href="http://daman.co.id/?s=hermes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hermès</a>, I learnt the importance of patience. He once said to me that “there needs to be passion and patience.” I think that is a great piece of advice, especially in the market that we are in, in this luxury world. It’s not only the passion for what we create and what we put out there that’s important, but also the patience—the patience to let the product come to life, to let the product be understood.

DA MAN: Do you remember the first item you designed? 
Tomas Maier: The <a href="http://daman.co.id/?s=hermes">Cabat</a> was the first bag I designed at <a href="http://daman.co.id/?s=Bottega+Veneta" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bottega Veneta</a> when I joined in 2001. I wanted to design an iconic item which could represent Bottega Veneta and transcend seasons, reflecting the philosophy of understatement, luxury and contemporary functionality.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-49116 aligncenter" src="https://backend.daman.co.id/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/SS17_retouched_Look-30_HR.jpg" alt="" width="630" height="945" srcset="https://backend.daman.co.id/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/SS17_retouched_Look-30_HR.jpg 630w, https://backend.daman.co.id/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/SS17_retouched_Look-30_HR-200x300.jpg 200w, https://backend.daman.co.id/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/SS17_retouched_Look-30_HR-315x473.jpg 315w" sizes="(max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px" />
Sleek and deep hues also fill the suits on the runway
DA MAN: What are your thoughts on artistic collaboration for the brand? 
Tomas Maier: Collaboration is at the heart of Bottega Veneta and has the most complete meaning. First of all, everything that we produce is a result of people working together, from me as creative director to the design team and the craftspeople who make our products. We are very proud of our artisans working in the atelier in Montebello Vicentino, in the Veneto region in Italy where Bottega Veneta is from. I like the sense that there are skilled hands behind Bottega Veneta who come together to make our products. This extends to when the products have been made, and we collaborate with photographers and artists to create something valid and of quality for our campaigns.
<h3>“When somebody says ‘it’s never been done,’ there’s always a solution”</h3>
DA MAN: How do you resist trends and yet remain relevant to the modern man? 
Tomas Maier: I do not design really for a specific man; instead, what has always appealed to me is the way clothes can convey a sense of individualism and non-conformism. I think that nowadays, clients appreciate quality and impeccable craftsmanship more and more. There seems to be a growing understanding of what true luxury means: The attention to detail, the most exquisite materials, beautifully made things that stand the test of time and grow better with the years.
DA MAN: What do you hope to achieve for Bottega Veneta within the next 10 years? 
Tomas Maier: Heritage and tradition are inherent values of Bottega Veneta. We will always stay true to the artisanal roots of the house: A cultural heritage which fuses technique and creativity with know-how and gestures that have been passed down over time and grant our brand’s identity. We are proud of where we are today but we’ll keep on constantly challenging ourselves to bring our brand one step further, finding innovative techniques and new materials, avoiding trends and staying true to the artisanal roots of the house, which allows Bottega Veneta to be both relevant and desirable.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-49117 aligncenter" src="https://backend.daman.co.id/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/h79.jpg" alt="Tomas Maier" width="630" height="868" srcset="https://backend.daman.co.id/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/h79.jpg 630w, https://backend.daman.co.id/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/h79-218x300.jpg 218w, https://backend.daman.co.id/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/h79-315x434.jpg 315w" sizes="(max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px" />
A distinctive look of the season’s oversized pants
DA MAN: Could you tell us more about Bottega Veneta’s intentions to support the environment? 
Tomas Maier: Sustainability is an important priority for the company and it ties into our philosophy. We want to have the least harmful environmental impact because this is our heritage to protect—both the people and the places. Even our atelier is a reflection of our commitment. I’m very proud of the fact that Bottega Veneta is the first luxury fashion house to achieve the Platinum rating of the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification in the New Construction and Major Renovations category. It is the present, and the future, of Bottega Veneta. Our intention has always been to support sustainable activities and causes as our endeavors are focused on the long term.

Tomas Maier’s Passion for Fashion