Issue link: https://www.balharbourdigital.com/i/1525926
C O U R T E S Y O F LO E W E /G A B R I E L VO L P I oewe, pronounced "low-eh-vay" (you might've seen the comedic short film featuring the actors Aubrey Plaza and Dan Levy teaching audiences how to say and spell it), was founded as a leather goods manufacturer in Madrid, circa 1846. For the following century and a half, it stayed relatively low profile and localized. Yet the past 11 years have seen the label absolutely skyrocket to new heights, both financially and aesthetically, due to the designer Jonathan Anderson, who was appointed creative director back in 2013. Under Anderson's imagination, Loewe has become one part arthouse, one part funhouse, and, added together, a total powerhouse. And they've just opened a new house at Bal Harbour Shops. Thanks to Anderson's eclecticism—both in how he creates and in how he curates (more on this in a second)—Loewe is now regarded as a forerunner in its field. The brand retains its craft-centric origins (ogle, for example, at the leather workmanship of its signature "Puzzle" bag), yet it is also layered with The Spanish luxury brand brings its most covetable looks to Bal Harbour Shops with a brand-new art- and design-filled boutique. BY NICK REMSEN elements pulled from a bigger, more diverse prism: fine art, product design, industrial design, travel, and more. The clothes and accessories are excellent in their wearable uniqueness, but they almost seem secondary to Loewe's core appeal: Anderson is a world-builder who constructs without stunts, and his clients are not only part of this distinct community, but champions of it. (In Shanghai this past spring, I saw, for example, a famous actor, in town for an exhibition opening, make a five-figure purchase with no VIP discount.) Loewe has emerged as the North Star fashion brand for those who appreciate aesthetics and intellect, and less for those who are trend-driven and hype-prone. It's a powerful thing to associate with—it feels, more than other labels, like a member's-only creative club. Loewe's Bal Harbour space takes its inspiration from what Anderson calls his "Casa Loewe" concept, which further suggests a kind of in-the-know clubbiness. The brand describes this brick-and-mortar approach as "retail combined with the intimacy of an art collector's home." Loewe's Fall/ Winter collection includes the latest style from the Flamenco family of purses. loewe welcome The Spanish luxury brand brings its most covetable looks to Bal Harbour Shops with a brand-new art- and design-filled boutique. BY NICK REMSEN L BALHAR B O U RSH O P S .CO M