Though he previously designed at Maison Margiela, Donna Karan, and Balenciaga and worked as the director of ready-to-wear under Phoebe Philo at Céline, Daniel Lee was relatively unknown when he took over at Bottega Veneta. In July 2018, he replaced Tomas Maier (who had been at Bottega Veneta’s helm for 17 years) as the creative director of the house. Lee still might not have any social media accounts, but he is no longer so anonymous. He has catapulted Bottega Veneta’s sales, won highly covetable accolades at the Fashion Awards (including Designer of the Year and Brand of the Year in the same year!), and become one of the most anticipated shows during Milan Fashion Week.

When Daniel Lee started at Bottega Veneta, the Spring/Summer 2019 collection was already in the works. As he tweaked it to give it his own personal touch and finishes, he designed The Pouch. At the time, he did not expect Bottega Veneta’s The Pouch to be the next ‘IT’ bag, as it is a clutch that does not boast any logos or feature a strap (for Spring/Summer 2020 it was given a chunky, gold chain update). Because it is not the most functional of bags, Bottega Veneta’s merchandising team was originally skeptical of The Pouch; however, it quickly became the fastest-selling item in the history of the house.

The Pouch, Daniel Lee’s first design for Bottega Veneta, is crafted of soft leather (butter Calfskin, Intrecciato Nappa, and even foil looped Lambskin) to give it the slouchy folds that have become its signature. It features a magnetic frame and natural suede interior lining.

Though it is more of a capsule than trend-led piece, Bottega Veneta’s The Pouch has taken over Instagram. Whether it is tucked under its wearers’ arms or clutched at their hips, it simply photographs beautifully. Just look at Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s feed. She featured The Pouch over 39 times in just 3 months!

Following RHW’s lead, The Pouch often sells out (especially in the Cammello and Nude 20 colorways). Do not want to put yourself on its never-ending waitlist? Shop our pre-owned collection of Bottega Veneta’s The Pouch instead!