Taking inspiration from the vision-laden vaults of Studio Ghibli, Loewe re-imagines the enduring masterpiece that is My Neighbor Totoro in this highly anticipated limited-edition collection.
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Apart from the sweeping sceneries in strokes of watercolor and sentimental slices of life that sear itself deep into the subconscious, what threads the community of cult favorites from Japan’s most honored and hallowed Studio Ghibli is a sense of wonder that delights not just the children, but the grown-ups as well. In fact, the appreciation for a Studio Ghibli film increases exponentially over the years, where the value of exploring and experience substantiates comprehensions and revelations that are timely for whatever life stage you find yourself in. Commanding and compelling in its approach, there exists a benign brilliance that runs through its masterpieces that include Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Howl’s Moving Castle, and of course, My Neighbor Totoro.
With its earnest and honest commitment to the art of storytelling and animation, Studio Ghibli has long been a source of inspiration to many, even striking partnerships and collaborations over the years. Its most recent artistic alliance sees itself sailing across many oceans apart to Spain for an endearing endeavor with Loewe. “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,” muses Loewe Creative Director, Jonathan Anderson. “Anyone who has seen Hayao Miyazaki’s 1988 masterpiece cannot possibly forget it. 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.”
Wholeheartedly taking to the cultural cornerstone, Loewe builds a connection with the whimsical characters and fantastic landscapes of My Neighbor Totoro by serving as a most worthy canvas to inhabit without losing its inherent charm and humor. From the Totoro standing guard on everything from ready-to-wear separates and the susuwatari or Soot Sprites inching towards darkened corners in leather goods, it is like looking at fashion through the lens of child-like awe just as Satsuki and Mei did in the rural expanse of Japan in My Neighbor Totoro.
“I find the way that we used the characters on leather accessories particularly charming, as we worked with our very own leather marquetry —or ‘intarsia’—technique. The Totoro characters are featured in intarsia on the surface of iconic Loewe bags such as the Puzzle, the Balloon and the Hammock, as well as on small leather accessories such as pouches, cases and wallets. A meticulous tapestry technique is explored in tote bags,” details Jonathan Anderson on the Loewe x My Neighbor Totoro collection. An ode to preserving magic and harmony with nature, the undertaking evokes a distinctly youthful energy with the art splashed on the accessories and fashion, which sees a decided ease in t-shirts, button-downs, hoodies, jumpers, culottes, and even biker jackets. Sharing the spotlight in the starring role with Totoro and the dust orb spirits are the iconic Loewe bags, such as the Hammock, the Balloon, and the Puzzle, that are already gaining quite the fanfare online even before its worldwide release on January 8.
In what is set to be a game of hide and seek for the limited edition pieces, as is of course parallel to the film, My Neighbor Totoro, the Loewe capsule collection perfectly captures the memories of the visionary masterpiece and introduces it to a whole new audience and generation, which you can carry around, of course. Underscoring the allusion that in the adventure of life itself, all you really need to get through is a splash of wonder, a heaping of imagination, and a firm grip on daring, Jonathan Anderson concludes, “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.”
