Studio Ghibli fans will be thrilled to hear that Loewe has once again joined forces with the famed Japanese animation studio for a new capsule collection. The third and final instalment to the collaboration – which has previously drawn inspiration from Spirited Away and My Neighbour Totoro – sees Jonathan Anderson celebrate the 2004 cult classic Howl’s Moving Castle. “The world we are living in needs a counteract not as an escape, but as a different outlook. This, to me, is what Hayao Miyazaki’s animated films for Studio Ghibli are about: a commentary on the moment and an alternative to it, always heartfelt, fulfilling, full of fantasy and sentiment,” writes Anderson.
Admittedly one of his personal favourites from the Studio Ghibli franchise, Anderson was drawn to Howl’s Moving Castle for the film’s sense of “loyalty and compassion against a backdrop of magic, imposing technology and the destructive effects of war, which makes it incredibly resonating.” He continues: “Blending hand-drawn and digital animation, Howl’s Moving Castle is technically innovative, exemplifying the power of craft as a bridge between the old and new—a creative approach that Loewe is proud to share.”
To mark the collection’s release – which sees a range of the brand’s hero products, such as the Puzzle and Flamenco bags, feature the film’s beloved characters – Loewe has taken over Selfridges’ Corner Shop. Opening today, February 1, fans can exclusively shop the collection before anywhere else in the world – where blown-up sculptures of Sophie, Calcifer the fire demon and the Moving Castle decorate the space. Loewe has also taken over Selfridges’ Dolly’s Café to open Calcifer’s Kitchen, a “culinary experience” for you to indulge in sweet and savoury treats inspired by the film, created by Balbosté.
The Selfridges Cinema will hold a series of screenings of the film throughout the month, and guests can also experience the makings of the collaboration in the store’s Edward Mews exhibition space.
Campaign imagery by Juergen Teller, all photography courtesy of Loewe.
Loewe x ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’ is open at Selfridges London until February 25.
