Bottega Veneta emphasizes the craftsmanship of its products. The Italian label of the Kering group, known for its leather products and its famous moved weaving technology, has appointed Barbara Zanin, responsible for product development of leather goods since 2001, as head of the newly created function of craft and cultural heritage.

For this new role, Bottega Veneta has chosen a product expert who knows the business inside and out, as Zanin has been with Bottega Veneta for over a quarter of a century. She joined Bottega Veneta in 1998 as a research assistant for leather goods, working in Bottega Veneta’s atelier in Montebello Vicentino, in Veneto, Northern Italy.

In her new role, Barbara Zanin will work closely with Creative Director Matthieu Blazy and CEO Leo Rongone to preserve and promote Bottega Veneta’s artisanal expertise. She will oversee all artisans working in the Montebello atelier in Veneto, expand the label’s archives and act as an ambassador for Bottega Veneta’s exceptional leather craftsmanship, the label said in a press release.

“Craftsmanship is the foundation of Bottega Veneta’s ethos. It’s what first attracted me to the label when I joined 23 years ago. Over the decades, I’ve seen firsthand the success of this passion. It sets our products apart, unites our community, and inspires endless evolution and creativity,” said Zanin, who founded the Accademia Labor et Ingenium (Academy of Work and Ingenuity), the label’s vocational school that teaches the techniques and expertise that master artisans have developed since Bottega Veneta was founded in 1966.

By creating a role that encourages artisanal crafts, Bottega Veneta seems to be focusing more than ever on leather accessories, a category that is central to the strategies of many luxury brands, especially as the luxury market declines.