In a time when designers are scaling back the production cost of their shows (if not deciding to cancel them all together) it was very interesting to see Loewe, the boutique Spanish leather goods company, take the runway after close to a three year hiatus.
Since taking the reigns as creative director several seasons ago, Stuart Vevers had opted for a more personal, static presentation format which allowed the audience to get up close to each piece in order to really see and appreciated the craftsmanship it takes to design and execute luxury leather goods.
Perhaps through staging a show with actual models, he hoped to make it clear that Loewe does more than just quality handbags and leather goods.
Although Verer included items fabricated from other materials such as oversized wool coats, knit tops, and a jacket and skirt made of novelty woven ribbon fabric, they all remained in the shadows of the leather pieces.
The house has made a name for itself through its unwavering commitment to the highest quality leather products executed with impeccable technical grace, earning a reputation that rivals even its Italian counterparts.
It was therefore no surprise that the strongest pieces of the runway show were the leather items such as the black jackets and coats with folded-back lapels that revealed subtle fused linings for added texture, fur-lined long leather coats, various interpretations of the shift dress in leather and fur, some with perforated design details, and the suede and fur versions of a 50’s style “little black” cocktail dress lended a fresh tasteful twist to leather as one knows it.
Loewe’s strength has always laid in its mastery of leather goods, and this outing reinforced that fact.
Images courtesy of the Fashion Spot forums.
