Stepping into Bottega Veneta’s spring 2025 show in Milan, attendees found themselves immersed in a whimsical world unlike any other. Instead of the usual rows of chairs, they sank into plush, animal-shaped leather lounge chairs resembling dogs, bunnies, chickens, and even elephants. This playful touch, masterminded by creative director Matthieu Blazy, has taken the internet by storm, with videos of celebrities like A$AP Rocky and Jacob Elordi lounging in these comfy creations going viral on TikTok.
Blazy’s inspiration? The legendary Zanotta Sacco chair, originally designed in 1968 by Italian modernists Piero Gatti, Cesare Paolini, and Franco Teodoro. At the time, its blob-like shape was revolutionary, completely abandoning rigidity for a pure embrace of comfort. This reflected the cultural shift of the era, moving away from the formality of the 1950s towards the more experimental and free-spirited 1960s and 70s.
Now, 56 years later, Blazy has brought the Sacco chair back, infusing it with a nostalgic twist. His spring 2025 collection was built around the concept of childhood, capturing that sense of wonder and unbridled joy. “I was interested in the idea of wow, the wonder you have as a kid when you try something—it’s almost like primal fashion, your first experience of fashion when you try your parents’ clothes,” Blazy explained to Vogue’s Nicole Phelps. The beanbag chairs perfectly embodied this playful sensibility, resembling the kind of furniture you might find in a child’s bedroom.
Bottega Veneta confirms that the seating spanned 15 animal and insect types, creating a veritable Noah’s Ark of cuddly companions: dogs, pandas, rabbits, ladybirds, snakes, birds, chickens, dinosaurs, otters, elephants, cats, foxes, bears, horses, and whales. Each one evokes a sense of joy and wonder, inviting guests to rediscover the child within. “It was the idea of The Ark: a joyful world with a sense of wonder, populated by friendly companions that make you smile and say ‘wow,’” Blazy explains. “Crafted entirely in leather, they sit low to the ground, so you have a different perspective when you sit on them—they are both joyful and comfortable! I hope this sense of wonder continues every time people come across them.”
And come across them, you can! This December, a limited number of Bottega Veneta’s Sacco chairs will be available for purchase at Design Miami, the prestigious design fair in Miami, Florida, coinciding with Art Basel. They can also be found on bottegaveneta.com, offering a chance to own a piece of this playful and nostalgic design statement.
