One evening in early December 2019, Daniel Lee, the carrot-topped, newish designer of the Italian luxury brand Bottega Veneta, went to the Fashion Awards in London to see how his brand had fared.

He wore a black Bottega tuxedo and a black Bottega turtleneck, and sat at a table with the Bottega chief executive, Bartolomeo Rongone, and the Bottega owner, François-Henri Pinault. Mr. Pinault is the chief executive of Kering, the French luxury group that includes Bottega as well as Gucci, Saint Laurent and Balenciaga, among other brands.

Mr. Lee, who was 33 at the time (he turned 34 in January) had been at Bottega for only about a year and a half; he was the youngest and newest designer in the Kering stable. He had never been to a fashion awards ceremony, but he was nominated in four categories.

He was feeling pretty good, and also very nervous, because he does not like speaking in public. A few days before the event, the British Fashion Council, which runs the awards, had been in touch and suggested he prepare some notes, so he had a feeling he might win something.