Loewe Celebrates Miami's Maison & Objet Fair With Exhibition "Marquetry in Leather"

In another example of the overlap of the worlds of fashion, art, and design, Spanish luxury brand Loewe launched an exhibit of one-of-a-kind furniture pieces at its first U.S. store.

Located in the heart of the Design District, "Marquetry in Leather" is the brainchild of the brand's creative director, Jonathan Anderson. The exhibition is meant to fuse modern design with the artisanal practice of marquetry — a technique that employs various swatches of materials to embellish furniture, in this case brightly colored leather. The show marks the second leg of the pieces' tour across the globe after their debut at the Milan furniture fair Salon del Mobile. Its Miami stop also coincides with the furniture fair Maison & Objet that's in town. 

The ateliers applied intricately cut bits of leather to antique British furniture, reinterpreting the inlay method employed in traditional bookbinding and woodworking. The patterns were inspired by Loewe's Madrid archives that feature design elements from the brand's rich history, dating to 1846. The pieces pay homage to not only the brand's iconic style but also Anderson's UK roots. Raised in England, he launched his own line, J.W. Anderson, in 2008. 
This past Wednesday, local fans of the forward-thinking brand gathered to celebrate the launch of the colorful yet stylishly elegant pieces. Design District developer Craig Robbins, hotelier Alan Faena, and others mixed and mingled at the reception sponsored by Solar, a new Spanish-language magazine that imbues the same spirit of contemporary Spain that permeates the brand. 

Loewe is known for collaborations in worlds outside of fashion. A few months ago, the store debuted a collection of photographs my Mexican-Italian photographer Tina Modotti. During Art Basel Miami Beach 2015, the brand also put on "Chance Encounters," a group show of works such as pottery, abstract painting, and photography.

"Marquetry in Leather" 
Through May 20 at Loewe's Design District store. Hours are from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. For more information, contact the store at 305-576-7601.