Bags of style

At a glance

Stand out with style

'Mystery' jewelry

Loewe was founded by German emigre Enrique Loewe Roessburg in 1846, which makes it one of the oldest purveyors of luxury goods in the world. Its craftsmanship and tradition are even older, dating to the 8th-century Spanish Cordoban leather prized by European royalty. The business was officially established as Loewe in 1872.

In 1905, King Alfonso XIII and Queen Victoria Eugenia of Spain bestowed on Loewe the warrant of "supplier to the royal court". Everything was still custom-made but ladies' handbags, particularly those made of iguana, crocodile and snakeskin, were the fashion must-haves and symbols of style of the period.

In 1939, Loewe opened a store on Gran Via in Madrid and it was one of the first commercial establishments to open on that street. Today, the very same store with its classical fittings and mirrored staircase is the flagship boutique. It has been restyled by architect Peter Marino and re-opened in November.

The 1950s saw an expansion all over Spain. In 1963 Loewe opened a London boutique followed by Hong Kong and Tokyo in the '70s. This was also when Karl Lagerfeld and Giorgio Armani designed the ready-to-wear collections. Loewe is in 47 countries and is available in more than 300 shops outside Spain.

Another best-selling bag, the Flamenco, was launched in the 1980s. It is a soft pouch made of nappa leather that can be carried in three ways. And true to the nature of the dance it is named after, it is an eye-catching accessory with tasseled drawstrings that comes in a variety of lively colors. In 1996, Loewe was acquired by LVMH.

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