Review: Loewe X Studio Ghibli’s Howl’s Moving Castle – The third & final instalment
Hurry, some of these collectable items are already sold out!
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In the third and final instalment with Studio Ghibli, Spanish luxury House Loewe pushes its creative boundaries to bring the Japanese animated film Howl’s Moving Castle into wearable form. The Loewe x Howl’s Moving Castle limited-edition collection features key characters from the well-loved film — the protagonist Sophie, the debonair Howl, the mischievous fire demon Calcifer, as well as Markl, Heen, Turnip Head, and the Witch of the Waste.
“The world we are living in needs a counteract: not as an escape, but as a different outlook. This, to me, is what Hayao Miyazaki’s animated films for Studio Ghibli are about: a commentary on the moment and an alternative to it, always heartfelt, fulfilling, full of fantasy and sentiment. This is also the reason why the final instalment of our collaboration with Studio Ghibli feels more timely than ever,” shared Jonathan Anderson
Hayao Miyazaki’s animated films for Studio Ghibli are about a commentary on the moment and an alternative to it, always heartfelt, fulfilling, full of fantasy and sentiment.”Jonathan Anderson
According to Loewe, Howl's Moving Castle is technically innovative, blending hand-drawn and digital animation while exemplifying the power of craft as a bridge between the old and new — a creative approach shared by the brand. In this final instalment, expect the unexpected: Beyond the intricate and traditional leather craftsmanship such as jacquard, embroidery and leather intarsia that we have come to expect from Loewe, I was blown away by their bold use of 3D appliques, pins, studs, shearling in the new Howl’s Moving Castle collection. Familiar scenes from the film and the beloved characters are brought to life on the Puzzle, Flamenco, Hammock, Amazona, Luna, on small leather goods, jumpers, jackets, and shirts, with details such as appliqué, raffia or feathers.
In 2021, Creative Designer Jonathan Anderson’s collaboration with My Neighbour Totoro tugged at our heartstrings through the heartbreaking story of two girls who shifted to the countryside, yearning for their mother’s return from the hospital. The following year in 2022, Spirited Away lured us into a magical world where a sheltered girl learnt the value of work and friendship. So how will the latest collab with Studio Ghibli’s Howl's Moving Castle, launching on 2 February 2023, surprise us?
The message is one of the uplifting connections. Crafting fantasies to create alternative realities and see the world differently.Jonathan Anderson
Animations from Studio Ghibli are never just stories. More than just beautiful storytelling, there is a lot of heart in each visually-arresting Studio Ghibli story depicted with layers of nuances, themes and learning lessons, making it accessible to kids and adults alike. It is not an understatement to say that Jonathan Anderson went all out with this final instalment, and fans of the luxury brand and Studio Ghibli will not be disappointed.
…ultimately they project a genuine sense of wonder and amusement. The message is one of the uplifting connections. Crafting fantasies to create alternative realities and see the world in a different way.
The designer made great use of the animation’s fantastical backdrop, interesting characters and rich colours for the Loewe X Howl’s Moving Castle collection. Think shearling fur, detachable earring/pin or lips in 3D, studded inlays, and feathers, which further depict the essence of the characters. A number of this final collection's items drew me in: the reversible houndstooth skirt depicting Sophie holding onto Calcifer against an incredible greenish blue landscape, Sophie and Howl sharing a moment against a combination of embroidery, intarsia and crystal inlays on leather, the castle transformed into a distinctively-shaped crossbody bag, Calcifer in three different emotions and many more.
This collaboration truly brings to life the world of Studio Ghibli, pushing the boundaries of creativity with bold, intricately crafted pieces via endearing characters and backdrops. Fans, now's your final chance to connect with the film on a deeper level, immersing in its rich storyline. In Jonathan Anderson’s words, it is “akin to handcrafted virtual reality in wearable form”. Judging from the long queue snaking at the entrance of the Loewe boutique at ION at 9:30am this morning during the Media Preview (the boutique is only open from 11am to the public), I say, grab these limited-edition pieces before they are sold out like their previous instalments.
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Loewe x Spirited Away capsule is on sale from 7 January. Here's a sneak preview
