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Loewe Unveils Diverse Finalists for Inaugural Craft Prize

PARIS — From a threadbare Norwegian sweater repaired with white yarn to a Japanese bowl made from glass and copper oxide, the inaugural edition of the Loewe Craft Prize spotlights handmade items from across the globe in a celebration of the human touch.
The brainchild of Loewe creative director Jonathan Anderson, the prize launched by the Loewe Foundation in April 2016 drew close to 4,000 submissions from more than 75 countries.
Loewe today announced the 26 finalists, and the winner — to be revealed on April 10 — will walk away with 50,000 euros, or $53,500 at current exchange rates. The list includes entries from as far afield as China, South Korea, Japan, Mexico, Australia, Bangladesh, Argentina, Canada and the U.K..
“I’ve never done something where I’ve felt it’s so rewarding,” Anderson said. “It’s been very difficult to edit the people down. We wanted to make sure that we had an incredibly good cross-section of the globe.”
A collector of everything from ceramics and textiles to silverware and woodwork, the designer said he wanted to launch the prize since joining Loewe in 2013 as part of his vision for the Spanish house, which is controlled by LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton. “It’s this idea that we employ

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Cushnie et Ochs to Launch Handbags

Sac du Jour: Cushnie et Ochs will launch bags for fall. The near-decade-old label will release five styles down its runway on Friday.
“It’s something we’ve always wanted to do — it’s been in works for a bit now. With our investment, we were able to get the ball rolling,” cofounder Carly Cushnie said of the brand’s minority investment by Farol Asset Management in late 2015.
Prices will range from $595 for a clutch to $1,595 for a tote bag. The label hopes its bags will grab the attention of steadfast ready-to-wear stockists such as Neiman Marcus.
The collection will be produced in Italy. It features the same razor-sharp lines as the label’s body-conscious rtw.
Said cofounder Michelle Ochs: “When we design, we think of a head-to-toe look. We wanted [the bags] to live side-by-side with our clothes wherever we sell.”
Added Cushnie: “For us, it’s something we’ve wanted to be able to do — own the whole look. Shoes are also in the pipeline. We have a unique perspective as female designers, to make a handbag that someone would want to wear every day.”

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Missoni Creates Activewear Capsule Range for Mytheresa.com

ATH-LEISURE OFFERING: Missoni has created an activewear capsule range for Mytheresa.com which launches on Thursday, WWD has learned.
The collection takes its cue from Jennifer Missoni — an actress, yoga advocate, daughter of Luca Missoni, and niece of Angela Missoni, the company’s creative director.
The Missoni x Mytheresa.com six-piece range, designed by Angela Missoni, consists of a cropped cardigan, a top, leggings, a jumpsuit, a halter neck bra and trousers — all done in the Italian house’s signature patterns. This is the first time the Italian brand has partnered with the e-tailer on an ath-leisure collection, a project that’s in line with Mytheresa’s plan to amp up its athleticwear offer on the site.
Prices range from 280 euros, or $299, for a halter neck bra to 670 euros, or $716, for a crossover jumpsuit. It will be sold on Mytheresa.com exclusively.
In addition to serving as muse for the range, Missoni will feature in a short film as well as in yoga video tutorials. Everything has been filmed in a villa north of Milan. The videos will run across the e-tailer’s social media platforms and web site.
“There is a trend in activewear,” said Angela Missoni. “And as I felt this part of the wardrobe

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