The making of an icon: Loewe's T-pouch is swimming in luxury

At a time when fashion brands are trying to do everything – from stylish gadgets to scented candles – Loewe stands out for its simple ability to create smart, memorable designs.

It’s not as easy as you might think. Fashion and furniture crossovers are a dime a dozen these days, but Loewe unveiled a stunner of a collection this year at Milan’s Salone del Mobile fair that is still talked about months later. The luxury Spanish fashion house showcased the age-old technique of leather marquetry through this vibrant collection, layering inlays and cutouts on oak furniture in decorative motifs.

This is meticulous and complex work, a testament to the brand’s remarkable expertise in manipulating leather, and the attention to detail is even more evident when working with smaller accessories. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how they create the popular T-pouch with a carp motif – inspired by a Japanese screen by creative director Jonathan Anderson found in Hong Kong, and a design that is as visually stunning on a screen as it is on your bag. 

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In order to produce the shimmering effect of the fish, the craftsman carefully chooses several layers of leather in different hues and textures. Each piece of leather is cut by laser and cleaned to remove unpleasant odours from the burning.