BOTTEGA VENETA | Supporting Three Youths from Disaster-Affected Areas in Eastern Japan Through Study in Italy

BOTTEGA VENETA

Studying Bag Design, Now Thriving

Supporting Three Young People from Disaster-Affected Areas in Eastern Japan Through Study in Italy

The Italian luxury brand,Bottega Venetahas launchedthe Great East Japan Earthquakea project to support young people from disaster-affected regions. Three individuals, already selected through a rigorous process, departed for Italy in late January. They are now diligently pursuing their studies alongside peers from around the globe in a bag-making course held at institutions such as the Vicenza Institute of Architecture.

Text by YANAKA Tomomi

Their Italian Sojourn Documented Online

the Great East Japan EarthquakeSince the occurrence of the Great East Japan Earthquake, Bottega Veneta has made donations through the Japanese Red Cross Society, including the entirety of its e-commerce sales in Japan and the full proceeds from a specially designed charity keychain. Now, with a different approach to supporting the affected regions, the brand has conceived an Italian study abroad program for young people from Tohoku, aiming to provide them with an opportunity to forge new paths and build the future foundations of Japan.

This year's participants include Yukina Koike (23), from Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture, who is currently enrolled in a specialized vocational school for bag making. Emi Odabe (28), from Hitachiotta City, Ibaraki Prefecture, who previously worked as a bag designer for an apparel manufacturer before engaging in Japanese painting restoration, and is currently on leave due to the earthquake. And Kenko Sato (28), from Aomori Prefecture, who was employed at an industrial design office in Sendai City and is also on leave due to the earthquake. They will receive full scholarships covering travel, tuition, living expenses, and Italian language training. For three months, they will attend an intensive bag-making course, spanning 336 hours, jointly developed by Bottega Veneta and the Vicenza Institute of Architecture.

The three departed in late January for Vicenza, the birthplace of the brand, where they will reside for three months. Currently, while living together, they are immersing themselves in learning the brand's essence—its deep knowledge, tradition, and techniques honed over a long history, alongside the history of fashion and the intricacies of leather—with students gathered from across the globe.

Bottega Veneta is also sharing the students' experiences and daily lives in Italy through its official website, official Facebook page, and Tumblr. Diaries from Odabe and Sato have already been posted on the official website, chronicling their fulfilling study abroad experiences and Italian life with accompanying photographs. The three are scheduled to complete the program in April and will present their findings at the University of Tokyo upon their return.

Tomas Maier, the brand's Creative Director, shared the following message: "The courage and determination of the Japanese people continue to inspire me. For us, whose craft is centered on artisanal skill, initiatives like this are not only our responsibility but also a great source of joy."

These three individuals have seized a unique learning opportunity while navigating life in a foreign land. We encourage you to follow their inspiring journey.

Official Website
http://www.bottegaveneta.jp/

Official Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/bottegaveneta

Tumblr
http://thestudentdiary.tumblr.com/

Bottega Veneta Japan
Tel. 0570-000-677