Loewe has partnered with Sotheby’s auction house to exhibit its unique Loewe Weaves project; a collection of hand-embellished Galician chestnut roasters, leather bags, baskets and accessories. It is the first major luxury fashion house to consign with the platform, which will be exhibiting seven chestnut roasters by artists Arko, Min Chen and Laia Arqueros. The works will be included in Sotheby’s’ auction on 12 May which will take place on Sotheby’s' Buy Now online marketplace.
Each chestnut roaster – a handmade clay pot with multiple functional holes punched throughout – is enhanced with strips of various fabrics including ribbons, rope, leather strings, feathers and straw. Aside from those up for auction, 84 roasters were delivered to Spanish artisans Idoia Cuesta and Belen Martinez, as well as Loewe’s own ateliers, for them to decorate with surplus fabric from past Loewe collections, breathing new life into discarded materials. “Authentic craft, for me, is sustainable,” says Loewe creative director Jonathan Anderson. These roasters will be available for sale in select boutiques worldwide.
The Loewe Weaves collection extends the intricate art of weaving to accessories including handbags, bracelets and baskets as well as woven vases. The House’s iconic balloon bag features the addition of surplus materials while the Elephant bag is created from woven raffia.
The Loewe Weaves collection showcases its commitment to craft and turns traditional techniques into wearable works of art without losing its sense of joy. “Across this whole project, what I hope that comes through is the liveliness and expansiveness of contemporary craft, as well as its playfulness,” says Jonathan. “I am proud we have created singular objects that rewire function through decoration, and the other way round.” The Loewe Weaves collection is available online and in stores from 27 May. Bid on Sotheby’s x Loewe here.
