In a world where news of a global pandemic on top of political unrest and social crises continue to plague us every single day, we all long for a sense of escapism to remedy our anxiety and distress. Loewe is offering just that with its latest capsule collection in collaboration with Studio Ghibli – a marriage of craftmanship and a cultural landmark.
The Loewe X My Neighbour Totoro capsule transports the protagonists of the well-loved film onto a range of clothing, leather bags and accessories. While Studio Ghibli is no stranger to brand partnerships and Totoro character merch, this marks its first high fashion collaboration – thanks to Loewe creative director Jonathan Anderson.
“There is a natural longing for heartwarming feelings right now. When I think of a movie that affords me that kind of solace, speaking just as directly to a child as it does to an adult, that movie is My Neighbor Totoro. Anyone who has seen Hayao Miyazaki’s 1988 masterpiece cannot possibly forget it,” Anderson said.
“The story of Mei and Satsuki’s friendship with the magical Totoro and his cohorts, the mischievous dust bunnies, who can’t be seen by adults but only by the children who love them, is truly touching. It’s also a labor of love by its author and the team at Studio Ghibli, the Japanese film studio based in Tokyo who animated and directed the film. It is a product of craft in the form of an animated movie,” he added.
Portraying this commitment to craft, the collection embraces the iconic characters and fantasy landscapes in the film and interprets them as prints, jacquard intarsia and leather marquetry. They also appear as hand-painted motifs or take the form of pom-poms adorning t-shirts, hooded sweatshirts, jumpers and biker jackets.
Loose silhouettes ensure comfort when wearing the clothing pieces outdoors, while the fluidity of the collection projects a youthful aesthetic.
As for bags and accessories, Totoro characters are featured using an intarsia technique on the surface of signature styles like the Puzzle, the Balloon and the Hammock, as well as on small leather accessories such as pouches, cases and wallets.
To capture the essence of the collaboration, the campaign imagery by photographer Gray Sorrenti portrays models playing a game of hide and seek in the woods. The resulting narrative is one of discovery and connection with nature, conveyed through light and a sense of wonder.
“The message is one of dreamy serenity and hands-on creativity – of being at one with nature and with one’s own inner child – which is especially important right now and, I think, always will be,” Anderson puts it simply.
Discover the Loewe X My Neighbour Totoro collection on the brand’s website here.
Photos: Loewe
