The Irish designer’s boundary-breaking run at the Spanish house has come to an end
Today (March 17), the rumour of all rumours has finally become a reality: Jonathan Anderson is leaving Loewe. In a statement posted via Anderson’s personal Instagram this morning, the Irish designer reflected on his time at the house. “They say all good things must come to an end, but I disagree,” Anderson wrote. “While my own chapter draws to a close, Loewe’s story will continue for many years to come and I will look on with pride.”
Elsewhere in the statement, Anderson recounted, “since my first day at Loewe I found kindred spirits in the design studio and the atelier, whose talents were, and still are, second to none,” and that he had been “lucky enough to be surrounded by people with the imagination, the skills, tenacity and resourcefulness to find a way to say ‘yes’ to all my wildly ambitious ideas.”
In a separate statement, LVMH CEO Sidney Toledano also praised Anderson’s run. “What he has contributed to Loewe goes beyond creativity. He has built a rich and eclectic world with strong foundations in craft which will enable the house to thrive long after his departure.” So far the company has given no indication of who Anderson’s successor may be.
Though it’s been looking this way for a while, today’s news still has somewhat of a sting to it. Across his 11 years at the Spanish house, Anderson transformed Loewe from a strong and steady leather goods company to the hyped global megabrand we know today, and his creativity will be missed by fans around the world.
In an Instagram video posted on March 9 ahead of the brand’s AW25 Paris Fashion Week presentation, Anderson looked back at his tenure at the house, remembering key moments that included Rihanna’s ruby red Super Bowl outfit, Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour bodysuit, campaigns starring Aubrey Plaza, Josh O’Connor and Taylor Russell, plus a whole host of iconic runway looks. As well as those moments, Anderson also paid tribute to the non-fashion side of the business, with the video also featuring many objects from the Loewe Craft Prize which he founded in 2016. When Anderson dropped that post eight days ago, for many the writing was already on the wall.
Known for his proportional play, innovative silhouettes and keen sense of humour, Anderson was made creative director of Loewe in 2013 and presented his first collection for the house in June 2014, a SS15 menswear lookbook. Over the years, the Irish designer has given us countless memorable moments, from balloon heels to Puzzle bags, AW22’s car dress to the pixelated hoodies and sculptural anthurium bodices of SS23, bright yellow wader boots to blockbuster runway shows and countless more – the list could go on and on. Whichever designer is chosen to take up the mantle next has impossibly large boots to fill, so chances are LVMH won’t be taking the decision lightly. Whether it’s a well-known name or a designer plucked from relative obscurity, a new era of Loewe is most definitely upon us, so stay tuned for all the latest news coming out of the house.
Scroll through the gallery above to check out Anderson’s final collection for Loewe