Loewe X Spirited Away & More Interesting Fashion Collaborations

Loewe X Spirited Away

If you looked at Loewe’s latest collection and understood nothing, two things; you are either not an anime fan, or you are from an old generation. But if you are an anime lover just like I am, I know how exciting this sounds to you. The Spanish brand launched an iconic collection with the famed Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli featuring the great anime film Spirited Away. And the collection is HISTORICAL! And it is no surprise because when one of the most beloved brands partners with one of the best anime films, incredible things happen. To write this article, I had to research the collaboration obviously, and my eyes sparked just seeing my best characters transforming into textural clothing and three-dimensional accessories in the label’s trademark shapes. 

Looking at the candy-to-the-eyes pieces, we realize that this collaboration wasn’t made for everyone, it is targeting the younger generation who clearly have money and are willing to pay a fortune for a piece that has their favorite ‘cartoon’ character on it. 

It’s worth noting that this is not the brand’s first collaboration with Ghibli. Back in 2021, Loewe has launched a capsule collection featuring characters from artist and filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki’s My Neighbor Totoro on a selection of pieces.

Choosing some favorite pieces was a mission impossible as I loved them all. But here are a few items of the collection. 

Balmain X Barbie

Everywhere pink is the first thing you’ll notice when looking at Balmain’s latest collection. No surprise for a collaboration with the fashion-inspiring doll Barbie. Balmain Army’s bold spirit and Barbie universe’s bright iconography joined forces to introduce the “New French Style”. Much of this limited-edition collection plays with new spins on familiar Balmain signatures, including the house’s iconic marinière and its mesmerizing Labyrinth pattern. Olivier Rousteing, the current creative director of Balmain, was able to give Barbie a brand new aesthetic. He also worked on pushing boundaries by creating a collection that is 100% unisex. 

If this collaboration tells us anything, it tells us that the iconic blond doll is still influencing fashion. 

Here are some of our favorite pieces. 

MAX&Co X Margherita Maccapani Missoni

“Why not?” this is how the Italian fashion designer responded when MAX&Co. contacted her for a collaboration. And it is the way the designer took life back in her 20s.

“It is the motto with which my friends and I looked at life during our wonderful 20s. It means “ if there is no good reason to say, the answer to every new idea or possibility is, yes, let’s go for it! This is how I approached this unexpected collaboration proposal when MAX&Co. contacted me: why not?! said Margherita.

And this is the reason behind the partnership title ‘Shall We?’ Which we find quite interesting. How many opportunities we could have had if we have this mindset? The collection features modern, fresh and free pieces that are put together in very unexpected ways.

Here are some of our favorite pieces.

Adidas X Prada 

After their previous two successful collaborations, the fashion icons are back with another installment. This time they are not focusing only on trainers, but rather on co-branded apparel and accessories, centered firmly around sustainability. And it makes all the sense in the world for sportswear to be environment-friendly. All nylon will be swapped out for Prada’s signature Re-Nylon fabric, which is made from recycled plastic waste collected from oceans. The collection features tracksuits, anoraks, bucket hats, bags, and a reinvented, Prada-branded version of Adidas’s Forum trainers. Adidas with Prada treatment… Super exciting! 

Etro X Harris Reed 

The two powerhouses joined forces to launch a limited-edition blouses collection featuring the late 60s and early 70s. The capsule that contains two styles features voluminous shapes, blouson sleeves, and a pussy bow and are all made of the pieces are made from paisley- and floral-print dead-stock fabric from the Etro archives.

The North Face X Gucci: Chapter 2

A year after their very popular collaboration, the two brands joined forces again with another chapter of their partnership. The collection that celebrates the spirit of exploration includes mountain parkas, bombers, and hiking boots featuring the classic GG monogram, as well as reimagined styles from The North Face’s now iconic ‘90s collection, including jackets decorated with colorful prints inspired by Gucci’s archive. Emphasizing the importance of sustainable fashion, all the pieces were made of environmentally conscious fabric Econyl, made from regenerated fishing nets, as well as down that is certified to the Responsible Down Standard by Control Union.