Loewe Crafts Basket Bags from Upcycled Leather with a Handmade Touch

LOEWE

The Surplus Project: Giving New Value to Surplus Leather

LOEWE crafts basket bags and charms from surplus leather. The finished pieces showcase the maison's craftsmanship and its commitment to a sustainable future.

Text by Kosaku Waseda (OPENERS)

Beautiful Basket Bags and Charms in the Lineup

Introducing LOEWE's "Surplus Project."

This initiative reuses surplus and offcut leather generated during the creation of current collections as valuable resources to craft new, beautiful items. Following its efforts in recycling, upcycling, and organic textiles, the project further advances the pursuit of a more sustainable society.

The leather used is of high quality with minimal damage. Two types are employed: smooth classic calfskin and soft-grained calfskin, which offers a pleasant tactile sensation.

LOEWE crafts basket bags from surplus leather with a handmade touch | LOEWE

These are transformed by artisans into woven leather baskets and crab-shaped charms.

The woven basket bag was first presented by Jonathan Anderson in the Spring/Summer 2015 collection. It quickly became a popular item and a staple of the maison.

The design process involves cutting surplus leather of various colors into thin strips and weaving them into a lattice pattern, creating a colorful texture.

The crab leather charm, on the other hand, combines two colors of leather and features detailed reproduction of its claws and pincers. Despite its simple form, it is an attractive item that showcases the maison's craftsmanship.

Small Surplus Leather Woven Basket

Price | ¥278,300
Material | Calfskin
Size | W16.5 × H27 × D16cm
Color | 5 colors (Beige/Chocolate, Hazelnut/Camel, Steel Blue/Crystal Blue, Avocado Green/Ivory, Soft Apricot/Crystal Blue)

Crab Charm