Bottega Veneta vs Louis Vuitton: The Great Luxury Brand Debate 2024

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Bottega Veneta or Louis Vuitton. Who’s going to win this brand battle?

If you are a luxury items enthusiast, you probably own or have come across clothes, handbags, or jewelry by either Louis Vuitton or Bottega Veneta. The two rank among the most famous luxury fashion lines in the world. 

Also, you probably know that Louis Vuitton is a French-based designer, while Bottega Veneta is Italian. But are there any remarkable differences between the two fashion lines? How do the two compare regarding price, quality, and exclusivity?

Join us in this Bottega Veneta vs. Louis Vuitton guide as we explore the similarities and differences between the two iconic luxury fashion lines. 

Bottega Veneta vs. Louis Vuitton: History

Bottega Veneta History

Bottega Veneta started 56 years ago (in 1966) as a small fashion house in Vicenza, Italy. It has exponentially grown over the years to the huge brand it is today. The fashion house has also changed hands, both in management and ownership, many times after its establishment. 

However, despite these changes, one this has remained constant- its iconic Intrecciato design. 

In addition, despite having started as a sole proprietorship owned by Michele Taddei and Renzo Zengiaro, today, the fashion house belongs to Kering. 

Other fashion houses under the Kering umbrella include Balenciaga, Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen, and DoDo. 

Bottega Venetta has also widened its production line from interweave pattern bags and shoes to include ready-to-wear, jewelry, and accessories. The fashion line is also among the most lucrative entities for Kering, with revenues of  1½ billion Euros in 2021. 

Louis Vuitton History

Louis Vuitton is the brainchild of a French-based designer cum craftsman renowned for making trunks for French Empress Eugénie de Montijo. After honing his trade while working for her (she was Napoleon III’s wife), Louis Vuitton, in 1854, started the company mainly as a flat-topped stackable cases fashion house. 

What was remarkable about Louis Vuitton’s cases was their lightweight design and watertight nature. His son, Georges Vuitton, would later take up the business in 1892 following the death of Louis Vuitton. Georges was key to creating the renowned ‘LV’ monogram that’s still the company’s iconic label. 

Today, Louis Vuitton operates under the LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton corporation. This followed the company’s merger with champagne and cognac brands Moet et Chandon and Hennessy in 1987. 

Differences between Bottega Veneta and Louis Vuitton

Price: Bottega Vs Louis Vuitton

When it comes to pricing, neither of the brands comes in cheaply. This is because Bottega Veneta and Louis Vuitton aim to give their clients the same thing: exclusivity and great quality. Talk of the best craftsmanship, and you’re speaking about luxury brands that go for nothing less than top quality.

The founders may have been long gone, but the original quality has ever prevailed over the years. For instance, you need no introduction to Louis Vuitton trunks as they have retained the same features since 1854. 

For Bottega Veneta, the story is the same. While the firm has become more innovative and expanded its product range, you can’t fail to identify the products’ iconic Intrecciato weave design immediately. 

Which is Pricier?

So are they both expensive? The short answer is yes.

However, Louis Vuitton bags are slightly more expensive than Bottega Veneta, retailing between $1600- $30,000, while Bottega Venetta ranges between $1250 10,500. Louis Vuitton bags are more expensive than Bottega Veneta, despite the fact that LV has a significant amount of bags made out of canvas instead of leather.

Bottega’s prices for handbags start at $1,250 for the Candy Cassette whereas Louis Vuitton’s bag prices start at $1620 for the Noe BB in canvas. You can check out the full price list for the most popular Louis Vuitton handbags here.

Bottega’s most expensive handbags are the Large Cabat ($10,200) and the Double Kalimero ($10,500).

Louis Vuitton’s most expensive handbags are made out of exotic skins: like the Mini Capucines in croc that retails for over $30,000.

Overall Louis Vuitton is the winner for the priciest brand between the two.

Exclusivity : Which is more exclusive LV vs BV?

Given their pricing, both brands are exclusive. The Louis Monogram might feel a bit more common, since everyone can identify it. Furthermore, there are probably more counterfeit Louis Vuitton handbags compared to BV, which adds to the feeling that LV is slightly less exclusive.

For Bottega Veneta, there’s an extra touch of exclusivity that just sets it apart from the rest. Its products are renowned for their handsewn interweaving pattern that loudly speaks of class. 

In fact, the Bottega Veneta logo is intentionally minimized primarily to bring more emphasis on the bag’s design over everything else.