Words by Maria de Feo, Writer

Everywhere we look, we can see art. Art is in the music we listen to, in the clothes we wear, and in the movies we watch. Sometimes, we can see multiple different art forms collaborating in one single object to form something completely new. Fashion is extremely versatile, in the sense that it collaborates with many other forms art. For instance, clothing can contribute to movie scenes in a vital manner and infuse them with meaning. An example of this would be in The Devil Wears Prada, in which fashion is so important that it almost becomes a character itself. In the film, fashion evolves simultaneously with the protagonist’s personality. For example, in the movie, Andy’s personality evolves with her style. As she becomes more involved in the industry and begins to respond to her employer’s difficult requests with more ease, her outfits become more stylised, polished, and sleek – similar to the people working in the world of fashion world.

Anne Hathaway as Andy Sachs in *The Devil Wears Prada* (2006)

Similarly, many singers use different kinds of clothing, depending on the music they are performing. David Bowie’s style complimented the music that he performed perfectly. When he embodied Ziggy Stardust, his alter-ego, his outfits would match this perfectly. The artist would wear tight clothing with colourful patterns, combined with bright red hair and bold makeup to unify the aesthetic.

David Bowie as Ziggy Stardust from The Edge (1971)

Jonathan Anderson, the Creative Director of the Spanish luxury brand Loewe, decided, in a similar way, to fuse fashion with another type of art. Through his collaborations with Studio Ghibli, the animation studio founded in 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki, Anderson was able to incorporate animation in fashion. His plan, he stated, was to transfer “virtual reality in wearable form”, and he made it possible by including elements of the director Miyazaki’s universe in Loewe’s designs. The three movies Anderson incorporated in his three collaborations were My Neighbour Totoro, Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle. It is interesting to see the way in which Loewe was able to make fashion’s force as a vehicle of expression even more intense, through the power of these three cinematic masterpieces.

Loewe’s first collaboration with Studio Ghibli consists in the incorporation of characters and sceneries from the movie My Neighbour Totoro in wearable items. For instance, Loewe’s iconic puzzle bag, which, first launched in 2014, was a great success amongst celebrities of the likes of Beyoncé, is now inhabited by the equally iconic Totoro, who is also mascot of Studio Ghibli. This version of the handbag has silver hardware and is yellow with some caramel leather detailing.

I was also impressed by the “Crafty Tree” wool-blend sweater, which, with its oversized fit, seems both comfortable and serves as a work of art on the wearer’s body. What is visually interesting about the sweater is the textured jacquard fabric, surface on which we can observe a layered tree. On the layered leafy tree, there is a small embroidery of Totoro.

The second collaboration between Loewe and Studio Ghibli was concentrated on the 2001 movie Spirited Away. The collection was composed of more than 100 items. Interesting is the wool “Susuwatari” cardigan, which is covered in hand-knitted little black pompons with small leather eyes and star candies in their hands. The black pompoms are supposed to represent the Susuwatari, black soots who wander around empty houses and make an appearance in Spirited Away as well as in My Neighbour Totoro.

The collection, of course, includes not only garments, but also accessories. An example is the “Chihiro” bag, which, with its golden hardware and brown leather straps, has, printed on it, the face of the young protagonist of Spirited Away. The bag was worn by the pop star Dua Lipa, who paired it with a yellow and orange crochet bikini and rectangular sunglasses. This is just one of the many examples of the collection’s success.

The last collection dedicated to Miyazaki’s works was focused on the movie Howl’s Moving Castle. Every piece is concentrated on a specific character. For example, there are numerous pieces dedicated to Calcifer, the fire demon who warms and fuels Howl’s Castle. The collection’s campaign shows Taylor Russell, a Canadian actress and Loewe’s brand ambassador, wearing a fluffy knit sweater dedicated to Calcifer. Hand-stitched on the red, orange, and yellow sweater are Calcifer’s eyes. The sweater is slightly stretchy, so it adheres to and follows the wearer’s body shape. The brand ambassador also holds a black puzzle bag with a little Calcifer printed on the bottom left-hand side of it.

Another Calcifer-themed accessory is the mohair wool-blend scarf with the fire demon’s eyes stitched on it. The scarf’s gradient pattern and fusion of warm colours reminds whoever sees it of a cozy fireplace. Its simplicity makes it extremely easy to wear on the day-to-day, and its warm material makes it perfect for the winter season.

The movies to which the collections are dedicated were groundbreaking. Rich in symbolism and philosophical language, they prove that the unfounded, but, unfortunately, widespread association of animation to immaturity is completely senseless. Fashion is also often a victim of unfair stereotypes and preconcepts. It is often associated to superficiality and is rarely, by the average person, acknowledged as what it really is: an artform. The fact that both art forms are often misunderstood is what makes a collaboration between them, in my opinion, even more powerful. Fashion fanatics can use the collection as a starting point to learn more about Miyazaki’s masterpieces and, at the same time, the beautiful imagery of his works can finally be worn. The obverse is also true. People who once were not as interested in the world of fashion might encounter brands like Loewe thanks to their love for Miyazaki’s works. Fashion is a vehicle for self-expression, and now this self-expression can be attained through the characters of some of the best animation ever produced.

https://fashionista.com/2023/01/loewe-howls-moving-castle-studio-ghibli-collection

https://www.lvmh.com/news-documents/news/loewe-x-howls-moving-castle-loewe-reunites-with-studio-ghibli/

https://www.elle.com/fashion/a35155900/loewe-x-my-neighbor-tortoro-studio-ghibli/

https://selfridgespress.com/2023/02/16/loewe-x-howls-moving-castle-at-selfridges/

https://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/article/jonathan-anderson-loewe-spirited-away-capsule

https://generasian.blog/2022/03/28/loewe-x-spirited-away-the-combo-we-never-knew-we-needed/

Loewe and Studio Ghibli - The Fusion Between Fashion and Animation