Amin Abbas

Loewe has launched the third and final collaboration with Studio Ghibli in a pop-up store at The Dubai Mall’s Fashion Catwalk, from Feb. 2 – 14.

Under the theme “Loewe x Howl’s Moving Castle”, the latest collaboration between the Spanish luxury fashion company and the famous Japanese animation studio features fabulous collection of the film’s iconic characters such as: Sophie, Howl, fire demon Calcifer, as well as Markl, Heen, Turnip Head, and the Witch of the Waste—animating clothing and accessories: drawn as leather or shearling intarsia, turned into embroidery on leather or textile, decorated with crystal and stud inlays on leather.

The characters appear on bags including the Puzzle, Flamenco, Hammock, Amazona, Luna, and Bracelet pouch, on small leather goods, on jumpers, jackets, and shirts, with details such as appliqué, raffia or feathers making them stand out as if they were alive. Scenes of the film are printed in the lining of tweed jackets, or all over shirts and shorts. Feathers on a cardigan create a magical fluttering and silhouettes allow the characters to be the real protagonists on each piece. The castle itself is featured too, as a collage of bits and remnants from our signature bags such as the Puzzle, Flamenco, Amazona, and Hammock, assembled to create a distinctive shape. The film’s mischievous fire demon Calcifer also inspires a new scented candle in the LOEWE Home Scents range, a smoky fragrance with notes of incense, immortelle, patchouli, vetiver, roasted hazelnut, cardamom and elemi.

Jonathan Anderson, creative director at Loewe said this latest collaboration is about different outlooks.

“The world we are living in needs a counteract: not as an escape, but as a different outlook. This, to me, is what Hayao Miyazaki’s animated films for Studio Ghibli are about: a commentary on the moment and an alternative to it, always heartfelt, fulfilling, full of fantasy and sentiment. This is also the reason why the final installment of our collaboration with Studio Ghibli feels timelier than ever,” he said.

“One of my favorite Miyazaki creations is the 2004 fantasy epic Howl’s Moving Castle, which is one of the most commercially successful Japanese films in history. Loosely based on a 1986 novel of the same title by Diana Wynne Jones, it tells a story of loyalty and compassion against a backdrop of magic, imposing technology and the destructive effects of war, which makes it incredibly resonating. Set in a fictional kingdom at war, Sophie is the story’s protagonist, a quiet young milliner who is turned into an elderly woman after being cursed by a witch who enters her shop. The metamorphosis transforms Sophie into a heroic central figure, who encounters a wizard named Howl and gets caught up in his resistance to fighting for the king.”

“Blending hand-drawn and digital animation, Howl’s Moving Castle is technically innovative, exemplifying the power of craft as a bridge between the old and new—a creative approach that LOEWE is proud to share. In the collection, we pushed creativity with bold, intricately crafted pieces designed to bring the world of the film, literally, to life. Key pieces embody the beloved characters and backdrops, giving wearers the chance to identify with the film on a deep level and escape into its rich layers. It’s almost like handcrafted virtual reality in wearable form,” he added.

Howl’s Moving Castle is a 2004 Japanese animated fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. It is loosely based on the 1986 novel of the same name by British author Diana Wynne Jones. The film was produced by Toshio Suzuki, animated by Studio Ghibli and distributed by Toho. The film is set in a fictional kingdom where both magic and early twentieth-century technology are prevalent, against the backdrop of a war with another kingdom. It tells the story of Sophie, a young milliner who is turned into an elderly woman by a witch who enters her shop and curses her. She encounters a wizard named Howl and gets caught up in his resistance to fighting for the king.

In 2013, Miyazaki said Howl’s Moving Castle was his favorite creation, explaining, “I wanted to convey the message that life is worth living, and I don’t think that’s changed.” The film is significantly thematically different from the novel; while the novel focuses on challenging class and gender norms, the film focuses on love, personal loyalty and the destructive effects of war.

Howl’s Moving Castle premiered at the 61st Venice International Film Festival on 5 September 2004, and was theatrically released in Japan on 20 November 2004. It went on to gross $190 million in Japan and $236 million worldwide, making it one of the most commercially successful Japanese films in history. The film received critical acclaim, with particular praise toward its visuals and Miyazaki’s presentation of the themes.