Loewe x Studio Ghibli Present ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’ Line You’ll Be Burning For
By Mikelle Leow, 26 Jan 2023
If fantasy were something you could tote around, it would appear in the form of these animated ready-to-wear pieces and accessories dreamed to life by Loewe and Studio Ghibli.
The pair have been dabbling in blending Japanese manga with fashion for a while, but all good things must come to an end. The latest Loewe launch, embodying Howl’s Moving Castle, marks its final collaboration with the magical world of Hayao Miyazaki. The film has been credited as the director’s favorite, so tying loose ends like this is rather apt.
Ending things off with a steampunk-powered bang, the selection plays around with shapes and materials to weave Studio Ghibli’s rich storytelling into your outfits.
“Blending hand-drawn and digital animation, Howl’s Moving Castle is technically innovative, exemplifying the power of craft as a bridge between the old and new,” describes Loewe’s creative director J.W. Anderson. It’s a style the Spanish luxury house resonates with, and it has interpreted this ethos in “animated clothing and accessories” that pay homage to key characters like Sophie, Howl, Calcifer, Markl, Heen, Turnip Head, and the Witch of the Waste.
Howl’s Moving Castle’s characters and motifs breathe a different kind of life into Loewe’s most memorable silhouettes—like the Puzzle, Flamenco, Hammock, Amazona, and Luna bags—but the brands are also not afraid to transform the animation’s lifeforms into wearables.
“Appliqué, raffia or feathers,” along with embroidery, crystals, and studs, make items “stand out as if they were alive,” Loewe explains in the press release shared with DesignTAXI. Even Howl’s drop earrings have been conjured up into the real world.
The final Loewe x Studio Ghibli collection will debut in stores worldwide on February 2. You can also sign up for the presale, which will offer access to the magical range a day earlier.
[via Loewe, images courtesy]