The Brand Partnered with Enameller Xiong Songtao to Create Special-Edition Accessories
Loewe has unveiled a special collection and accompanying short film to celebrate the Lunar New Year, highlighting Chinese craftsmanship in the Year of the Snake.
As part of an annual tradition, Loewe honors Chinese craft each new year. This tradition has previously included collections inspired by monochrome ceramics and jade. This year, the collection draws inspiration from the ancient art of Chinese cloisonné, a technique traditionally used in the royal court. This method involves creating intricate patterns and motifs using precious metal wires, which are then filled with colored glass paste, resulting in vibrant and detailed decorative pieces.
For this special edition, Loewe collaborated with Xiong Songtao, a Master of Chinese Arts and Crafts and a third-generation enameller. Together, they have crafted two sets of cloisonné works. These include a Nest bag adorned with snake head and lotus cloisonné details and necklaces featuring auspicious motifs of snakes, monkeys, and clouds. The cloisonné technique also inspired elements of the collection’s ready-to-wear, shoes, accessories, and special edition bags. Notably, new clutch bags are designed in the shapes of a cloud and a coiled snake, and iconic bags like the Puzzle bag and Pebble Bucket feature 3D clouds and snake chain details.
The collection is complemented by the short film “Spring Awakening: Dance of the Snake.” The film showcases contemporary dance, traditional kite-making, and shadow puppetry to celebrate craftsmanship and the onset of spring. Starring renowned Chinese dancer Xie Xin and her troupe, the narrative follows a lonely snake embraced by forest animals as they collectively herald the new season. The film also features shadow puppets by Chinese artist Danno and snake props by Zhang Xiaodong, a recognized representative of traditional Weifang kite craft under China’s National Intangible Cultural Heritage project.
The new collection will be available from January 9 at Loewe’s retail locations and on loewe.com.
