April 11, 2019
Loewe Baskets is up during Milan Design Week. Image courtesy of Loewe
Spanish apparel and accessories house Loewe is putting a new perspective on weaving in an art project that replaced traditional plant-based materials with leather and textiles.
Loewe tasked 11 artists with transitioning their techniques from bamboo or straw into baskets or sculptures fashioned of leather. This project is the latest in the brand’s celebration of craft, as Loewe makes artisanship a key part of its positioning.
Basket making
Loewe is participating in its fifth Salone del Mobile. During the design fair, the brand will be showcasing the “Loewe Baskets” project.
The chosen artisans use different traditional techniques in their typical work. For instance, Japanese craftsman Hafu Matsumoto uses flattened bamboo to create sculptures, while the U.S.-based mother and daughter team behind Shinzu Designs uses rattan and cane to create ornamental knots.
For Loewe, the craftsmen created one-off objects out of leather or fabric that will be available for sale during Milan Design Week.
In addition to the 11 artists, Loewe commissioned a collection of handbags, accessories and charms.
Among the collaborators were Spanish artisans from As Radieras in Coruña, Spain leveraged traditional fishing net knotting techniques.
Alvaro Leiro at work. Image courtesy of Loewe
Spain’s Alvaro Leiro typically uses reeds to make intricate baskets, but instead applied those techniques to leather, working with the material for the first time.
In 2016, Loewe launched an international award to celebrate excellence in craftsmanship.
Organized by the brand’s Loewe Foundation, the annual Loewe Craft Prize is judged by a distinguished panel of experts from the design, architecture, journalism, criticism and museum curatorship sectors. Acknowledging craftsmanship skills has become common for the luxury industry, as many heritage brands work to preserve skilled, artisan workmanship for future generations (see story).
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