Mika Hashizume opts for the Bottega Veneta Casette in its classic “Kelly Green”.
Ladies and gentlemen, we’re looking at a piece of fashion history. In short: Mika Hashizume might be one of the last stars to be pictured carrying the Bottega Veneta Casette. Far from being dramatic though, it’s in our interest to talk about how it survived the curse of a grail. Lee’s accessories — the blown up intrecciato-something, the freakishly enormous stompers and bulbous rain boots — are all still hankered for today even after seasons past and even more so now that Lee has exited the House.
His first collection, and subsequent iterations, showed no sign of the nervousness predicted. Streamlined silhouettes, tasteful applications of vivid colours, seductive candy-like accessories were simply elevations of existing traits but made relevant in a manner so harmonious it felt completely natural. Yet, one item distinctively stands out as instrumental in proving his strategy a success — the Cassette bags.
First revealed in the Fall/Winter ’19 collection, the cassette embodies perfectly Lee’s take on the house. The intrecciato weave, a detrimental feature in its products so pronounced it substantiates as a monogram without the need of logos, is modified and, quite literally, expanded to reveal a cartoonish end-product. It is smart — the bag retains the house DNA, but rids itself of the tired look of the weave and is adapted in a variety of colours, allowing it to stand out in modern times the same way it once did before.
First revealed in the Fall/Winter ’19 collection, the cassette embodies perfectly Lee’s take on the house. The intrecciato weave, a detrimental feature in its products so pronounced it substantiates as a monogram without the need of logos, is modified and, quite literally, expanded to reveal a cartoonish end-product. It is smart — the bag retains the house DNA, but rids itself of the tired look of the weave and is adapted in a variety of colours, allowing it to stand out in modern times the same way it once did before.
Since then, the Cassette family has expanded to include different iterations such as the Cassette, Padded Cassette, and Chain Cassette, and evolved into various styles — crossbody, belt bag, tote, bucket bag, candy bag variations are just some of many. Best of all, the Cassette reserves its reputation as a unisex staple, which means that its possibilities of reconfiguration are now endless.
Once you’re done with this story about Mika Hashizume and his Bottega Veneta Casette bag (which consists of additional reporting by Manfred Lu), click here to catch up with our March 2022 issue!
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