Brit it-designer to shoe fanatics Nicholas Kirkwood – best known for his feminine designs and architectural flair – has teamed with high-luxe jewellery and accessory house BVLGARI to stretch his creative mastery to the bag realm.

Award-winner Kirkwood has co-created a limited edition collection of clutches, purses and backpacks in a mostly monotone and metallic colour palette, featuring the Italian brand’s tell-tale enamelled metal serpent head on the clasps.

Bella Hadid for Bulgari Serpenti Forever x Nicholas Kirkwood

Putting his own spin on the brand’s well-known Serpenti concept has seen Kirkwood add a wild playfulness to the hero pieces that still reflects his well-known fascination with architecture and graphic designs.

As hard as the wicked 3D snake motif and youthful new shapes are to see past, the other key feature of the Kirkwood’s wares is the unique studded zig-zag pattern he conjured to reflect the mesmerising scales of a serpent as it moves.

“I created the chevron patterns using rubberised studs which have faceted ends that reminded me of diamond settings and some of the spectacular gemstones I had seen in the Bulgari High Jewellery atelier in Rome,” the designer explains.

Bella Hadid for Bulgari Serpenti Forever x Nicholas Kirkwood
These three rubber studded chevron pieces range from $1430 to $3870

To showcase Kirkwood’s handiwork to the world, 130-year-old Bulgari enlisted its current supermodel ambassador Bella Hadid and (in)famous fashion photographer Terry Richardson to create a series of images, such as this below.

Only a very limited number of each Serpenti Forever x Nicholas Kirkwood piece has been imported into Australia for in-store sale. For your nearest Bulgari boutique stocking the capsule collection, visit here.

Bella Hadid for Serpenti Forever x Nicholas Kirkwood
BULGARI SERPENTI FOREVER X NICHOLAS KIRKWOOD, BACKPACK, $4210. SHOP IN STORE