Bottega Veneta, rated the number one luxury brand in a recent survey conducted by the Luxury Institute, will open its first Pacific Northwest location at The Shops at The Bravern in Bellevue.

The leather good purveyor joins a star-studded line-up of firsts for the region, including Neiman Marcus, Jimmy Choo and Red Door Spa.

Bottega Veneta recently has emerged as one of the world’s premier luxury brands, according to the 2008 Luxury Brand Status Index survey conducted by the Luxury Institute.

The firm was founded in Vincenza, Italy, in 1966.

Currently under construction and scheduled for completion in 2009, The Bravern will feature arrival courts and European-style piazzas. The 1.6 million square foot development will include approximately 305,000 square feet of fashion-leading retail and restaurants anchored by a 125,000-square-foot Neiman Marcus, 455 Signature Residences in two condominium towers and two office buildings, which have been fully leased to Microsoft. When finished, the five-acre site will accommodate 2,300 Microsoft employees, approximately 1,000 homeowners and employ between 300 and 500 staff among the retail shops and services. The project also will include a 35-acre subterranean parking garage with 3,100 stalls.