Daniel Lee’s hugely successful run at Bottega Veneta, unfortunately has come to an end. With the Italian fashion house and the fashion designer coming to a joint decision – Leo Rongone, CEO of Bottega Veneta, said in a statement: “I would like to thank Daniel for his dedication… He provided Bottega Veneta with a fresh perspective and a new sense of modernity, while remaining respectful of the brand’s 50-year heritage. The remarkable growth of the brand over the last three years bears testimony to the success of his creative work.”
Daniel Lee, who is 35 joined Bottega Veneta as creative director in 2018, first started at Celine studio, where he was womenswear director under Phoebe Philo. Though, his first runway collection received mixed reviews, he scooped four awards: brand of the year, accessories designer, British women’s wear designer and designer of the year at the 2019 British Fashion Awards.
The released statement did not give a reason for the decision, but parent company Kering has said a new creative organization for the house will be announced soon. In the same statement, Lee said: “My time at Bottega Veneta has been an incredible experience. I am grateful to have worked with an exceptional and talented team and I am forever thankful to everyone who was part of creating our vision. Thank you to Francois-Henri Pinault for his support, and for the opportunity to be part of Bottega Veneta’s story.”
Lee’s last runway show was just last month – where he and his team showed his spring lineup for the label at the Michigan Theatre in Detroit. The collection gave a new definition to sporty and casual outfits.
Under his regime, Lee built momentum for the brand with disruptive strategies like erasing his Instagram account and that of the fashion brand – which led to the launch of a digital zine—a high-production, image-only effort filled with artist’s takes on the Bottega line and high-wattage talent, like Travis Scott and Missy Elliot.
François-Henri Pinault, chairman and CEO of Kering, thanked Lee for his passion and energy. “His singular vision made the house’s heritage relevant for today and put it back to the center of the fashion scene. I would like to personally thank him for the unique chapter that he has written in the long history of Bottega Veneta,” he said.
