“People are always attracted to objects that are handmade,” said Jonathan Anderson, the Creative Director of the Spanish Maison Loewe. That firm belief actually led him to create a special interior collection, launching at Salone del Mobile in Milan last year. Anderson and his team had to the most-hidden corners of the world to explore ethnic crafts in different regions. That was the birth of the “Loewe Salone Project” collection.
The 80 items of this collection were the co-creation between Loewe and more than 100 long-standing craft ateliers in Japan, Spain, Togo and Senegal to India. Each blanket, tapestry, tote bag, leather frame and box reflects certain textile technique and culture. With the hands of Loewe, it became a collectible piece. Combine traditional crafts with modern savoir-faire, the collection is truly a contemporary manifestation of craftsmanship.
But that was just the beginning. This year, Loewe has continued the celebration of craftsmanship with its Loewe Baskets, also launched in Salone del Mobile 2019. This time, Anderson invited 11 master weavers to create a limited basket collection with Loewe’s leather. The showcase also featured a bag collection by 3 Spanish artisans who specialise in traditional Galician weaving and knotting techniques.
“It’s something I’ve always been fascinated by, this idea of an individual being able to make something,” he said in an interview. “Craft is modernity; to look at different craft forms over time is a very good barometer to know where people are.”
