Every fashion house worth its salt now has a coffee table book documenting its history, offering exclusive behind-the-scenes access or an abstract homage to the maison.
Madrid-based luxury leather goods brand Loewe joins the book club with The Masters of Leather, written and illustrated by the hand of art director and illustrator Robert Clarke.
To capture the essence of Loewe, Robert Clarke immersed himself in the culture of Madrid, and visited the Loewe store, touring the ateliers and meeting the Loewe artisans in their workshops. He then moved up to Barcelona to see the leather being treated in the tannery, observing the process and craftsmanship that goes into each piece.
Reflecting the hand-made, craft aesthetic of the brand, Robert Clarke wrote all of the original pages by hand and illustrated them with emblems of his travels and experiences, alongside handprints of the Loewe craftsmen he met along the way.
The bold, free-spirited use of colour in the book reflects the vibrancy of Spanish life, culture and of course, fashion. Clarke said: “the book was inspired by Miro, Picasso and the colours of Spain, and there’s a hint of Tàpies in there too for good measure.”
Loewe’s leather goods are constructed by hand in the very same way as when the first shop was opened in 1846. With creative director Stuart Vevers at the helm, Loewe’s superior quality is matched with incredibly desirable designs – a house with heritage and a future.
The Masters of Leather is available from mid-September from all Loewe stores. For more info, visit: www.loewe.com