Take a closer look at Loewe’s new Totoro-inspired collection

ICYMI across the holidays, Loewe announced it was dropping a new Studio Ghibli collaboration made up of clothing and accessories bearing characters from cult classic My Neighbor Totoro. Standout pieces on the line-up include knitted sweaters and leather moto jackets, as well as new iterations of the label’s luxe leather goods – all of which are dotted with the film’s soot sprites and Totoro himself. 

Beloved for their wholesome storylines and dreamy visuals, Studio Ghibli’s films are also known for their notoriously painstaking production processes. Differing from modern filmmaking tactics, the company’s creators opt for a traditional animation route, which requires each individual frame from each to be hand-sketched and coloured – resulting in years of work and lots of anticipation for each movie.

Paying homage to the studio’s craftsmanship, the Spanish house is now offering a closer look at the collection via a set of sketches and images of the manufacturing process. According to creative director Jonathan Anderson, the imagery articulates the meticulous production of the leather bags that feature in the collection. Utilising a marquetry technique called intarsia, designers hand-trace and carefully peel off sketches of the Totoro characters and backdrops, before the shapes are cut into the leather. These techniques are featured across some of Loewe’s most popular handbags, including the Puzzle, Balloon, and Hammock styles.

“The connection between Loewe and Studio Ghibli is the mutual love of craft and artisanal techniques, expressed in our respective languages,” explained Anderson in a statement. “The connection between Loewe and My Neighbor Totoro, on the other hand, is the mutual connection with nature, the world outdoors, and a sense of perpetual invention.”

This link is captured through the collection’s campaign – lensed by native New York photographer Gray Sorrenti – which pieces together colourful drawings from Totoro with images of models running through the woods, layered up in the offering. Tbh, goals for our government-mandated walks during lockdown three.

Check out the process behind the collection’s bags in the gallery above, and revisit the campaign below.

Loewe x My Neighbor Totoro is available globally in-store and on LOEWE.com from Jan 8.