Box of tricks

Loewe SS21
Fashion | 14 July 2020

Loewe’s SS21 collection pays tribute to the old adage that good things come in small packages, or in this case, boxes. Created by Jonathan Anderson with the help of M/M Paris, this particular box (sent to usual guests) condenses the entire creative process of a catwalk into a neatly compartmentalised set of contents. With a nod to Marcel Duchamp’s famous Museum in a Box and the idea that great works of art can be reproduced in miniature, the layers of Loewe’s box represent constituent elements of this year’s collection, from inspirations to show setting and even DIY instructions.

Opening with a letter from Anderson and a run-through of key themes behind this year’s collection, the next layer down reveals lookbooks of both the men’s collection and women’s precollection printed in paper blocks. Dig deeper still, past the collection’s footwear rendered in postcard form, paper sunglasses that you can try on and the tactility of the collection comes to life.

Swatches and fabric cards emulate the texture of a key woven leather look while colour samples give insight into Anderson’s palette choice. Elsewhere, pattern instructions for a billowing tunic (Look No.23) provides those who have honed their sewing skills under lockdown with the opportunity to create their own piece of new-season Loewe. In another compartment, a portable cardboard record player tinkers the show’s soundtrack when manually spun and is accompanied by a pop-up recreation of an imaginary show setting. Embodying the zeitgeist, this is any collector’s wet dream and a perfect deconstruction of a fashion show’s anatomy.

GALLERYCatwalk images from Loewe SS21





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