When governments of two highly influential countries get together to promote and strengthen economic and social relations, a celebration in the form of fashion collaboration can be the only sartorially correct solution.
epending on what side of the globe you live 2013 is, “The Year of Spain in Japan” or the “Year of Japan in Spain.” The aim of this year long intercultural celebration is to promote trade between the two countries. With 2013 earmarked as the year to celebrate the exchange of these two diverse countries in style, who better to kick off proceedings than the Spanish house Loewe and the Japanese designer JunyaWatanabe.
Spain’s heritage brand from Madrid, Loewe is also celebrating its 40th year working with the Japanese market. Known for their luxury leather goods, Stuart Vevers of Britain, Loewe’s creative director, explained how refreshing it was to work with another designer from the other side of the world, especially with Rei Kawakubo’s protégé, Watanabe.
Junya Watanabe, known for his avante-garde designs and innovative style is often referred to as the “technical wizard.” With Watanabe’s knack for unexpected seams and zippers, and Vevers’s luxurious leather touch, the capsule collection is predicted to bring a joint energy that embraces the two relationship or the two nations. The clothing and handbag collection will be unveiled at Watanabe’s Fashion Week Show in Paris, then released in September at Dover Street Market in Tokyo and Loewe stores worldwide.
By CheRima Manayan
