A New Dawn Rises at Loewe—and the Future Is Bright

Ten days before Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez debuted their first collection as co–creative directors at Loewe (a job Jonathan Anderson—now the creative director at Dior—held for 11 years), they released a teaser meant to introduce “a new dialogue” for the Spanish fashion house. “The campaign begins to define a tone, a spirit, and the beginnings of an intent,” the duo behind Proenza Schouler wrote in the teaser’s release. “In it lies a vibrancy and tactility rooted in craft that feels fundamental to the house, a sunniness and sensuality that feels inherent to its Spanish roots, and ultimately an optimism and spirit that we recognize as deeply personal to us as individuals.” It was shot by photographer Talia Chetrit, featuring colors that feel both familiar to the designers’ work at Proenza Schouler and right at home at Loewe, perfectly setting the stage for an exciting next chapter in their new home: “Something hopeful and unfolding.”

Now that we’ve all seen their debut collection, which was unveiled on Friday in front of a crowd that included Solange Knowles, Emma Chamberlain, Sarah Paulson, and Tracee Ellis Ross (to name a few) in Paris, everything portrayed in the teaser proved to be true. A new era has arrived for Loewe, yes, but the brand still exerts the same playful, craft-focused energy that it did under Anderson’s leadership, proving that LVMH was right to hire Hernandez and McCollough for the job. Except this version has an added level of wearability and sleekness that was always evident at Proenza Schouler. It’s downtown New York meets Madrid, and the combination of the two is an absolute treat.