They say that rich screams and wealth whispers. And that is the axiom that can best describe the House of Bottega Veneta. The house of whom? You might have just asked yourself. Bottega Veneta was founded by Vittorio and Laura Moltedo in 1966 and is the second highest earner under the esteemed Gucci Group, with annual sales upwards of $500 million dollars worldwide.

Still doesn’t ring a bell? That is because where other fashion houses scream, Bottega Veneta whispers, much like its select, ultra-elite customer base. Those gloried few of the upper echelons of the moneyed set who have no compunctions on dropping $6000 for bag… more accurately a bag without any blatant, bedecked, blinged out visible gilding that screams “Look at my expensive bag!” like those of its nearest competitors showier pieces.

Every House needs a signature piece, and the crown jewel of Bottega Veneta is its distinctive, intricately woven Intrecciato line of hand-woven leather goods- bags, belts, shoes. These pieces are so labor intensive that they can take as much as two days to manufacture. And the quality shows! Bottega handbags are known for their clean lines and deceptively simple classic palette that are a perfect foil for the intricate leather work and are made from the softest woven leathers lovingly handcrafted by its master craftsmen. The bags are generally only labelled on the inside, though, here and there, a small, subtle logo can sometimes be found.

Currently the Bottega Veneta is being headed by Tomas Maier, a man whose aesthetic perfectly matches the vision of its original founders’ approach to design. Mr. Maiers’ designs can best be described as understated and ladylike with hints of greco-roman flair. In other word, absolute perfection.

All in all Bottega Veneta’s approach is best summed up by a company slogan that loosely translates as “When your own initials are enough.” And don’t worry, you’ll know how much it cost.