To coincide with Miami’s annual Maison & Objet Fair, Marquetry In Leather will be on display at the Loewe store in the Miami Design District. We had a brief Q&A with Jonathan Anderson about how everything started for this project, and how it applies to the current evolution and image of Loewe’s direction:
Q: What was the initiative behind embarking and exploring this new project?
A: “Loewe has the most amazing craftsmen and a beautiful heritage. We wanted to explore the possibilities of applying the technical expertise in leather craftsmanship to furniture design.”
Q: Through ad campaigns and other visual mediums, you’ve been training the eye of costumers to new materials, furniture and other lifestyle objects. Creatively, how do you maintain that consistency?
A: “Ultimately, fashion to me is more of a culture, it’s not just about clothing. It’s about the art, the craft and how people live today…and carrying through each of these elements to what is in our boutiques and retailers. To make it consistent, we have been working with M/M, Steven Meisel and Benjamin Bruno to create that visual platform.”
Q: Mid-Century design is a constant concept present in your direction at Loewe; it was vividly seen on the show setting and ready-to-wear collection for Fall 2016, and hinted in some design ideas of this project. How would you describe this distinct focus?
A: “I see Loewe as a house with a cultural landscape more than just a fashion brand. Mid-Century design has always been a reference of my favorite period of this brand when architect Javier Carvajal was designing the stores.”
Q: There’s a chair design in this collection of objects — the same chair can also be found in marble at the Loewe store in Miami. What does that particular chair design signify to you?
A: “Yes, the Baillie Scott chairs. I actually have two at my own house. I just love the functionality of them, and how they will always be modern.”