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METCHA | A global initiative aimed at taking leather-oriented stories into the spotlight to reflect today's generation's view of design and culture.

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It's an artisanal technique takeover.

Loewe x My Neighbor Totoro capsule collection

2021 may only have started, but one of the most anticipated collabs is already out in the open. Studio Ghibli’s 1988 masterpiece My Neighbor Totoro is now made into Loewe's ready-to-wear leather goods.

These drops are not the first time a major fashion house teams up with timeless characters. 2020 was the year for that blend of uniqueness, from Gucci x Mickey Mouse leather bags to Balenciaga x Hello Kitty handle bag in printed smooth leather and even the Star Wars x adidas representing everyone's favorite Chewbacca.

Totoro and Loewe's limited-edition dropped close to Hayao Miyazaki's birthday in vibrant colors celebrating the feel-good story thru a mutual passion of craft and artisanal techniques shared by Loewe and Studio Ghibli.

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Two of the biggest stars of the capsule collection, Totoro's Hammock Drawstring bag & Heel bag, can be worn in multiple ways and were crafted using leather marquetry.

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This technique has been used by LOEWE since the Paris SS16 women's runway show and continues to elevate the brand's collections ever since. Full of heritage, leather marquetry can only be done by skilled artisans. Like a puzzle, each leather piece is cut to precision by a special gas laser beam and then assembled by hand into a mosaic-like picture and ironed flat so the final design is smooth and even.

Hidden in plain sight while opening new possibilities for the material.

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Another big piece of the collection, the Landscape Totoro biker jacket in Nappa leather, is all hand-painted. Again, showcasing the attention to detail, the collection explores characters who go beyond what is expected in animation — such as the dust bunnies which took over signature designs like the Balloon bag and Basket bag.

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Catch how timeless techniques get incorporated into fresh designs at our apparel section.

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