One of the most enduring designs from Jonathan Anderson’s time as Loewe’s creative director just might be the Puzzle bag. It was the very first bag introduced during Anderson’s tenure and the company’s first new bag design since the 1980s, ushering in a new era for Loewe. Now that the Puzzle is celebrating its 10th anniversary, we’re reflecting on the versatility of the delightfully geometric bag.
Inspired by origami, the purse is a particularly satisfying form to reinvent, whether with applied details or new materials. The classic calfskin leather version takes nine hours to make, with 75 different pieces of leather needed to create its distinct shape, according to Harper’s Bazaar. The bag’s various triangular panels are well suited for a multicolored makeover, like this navy Puzzle bag or this gray, green and peach version that emphasizes the patchwork-like construction.
Other editions try for a different construction process entirely, like those made from braided leather. Meanwhile, some collaborations amp up the already impressive craftsmanship, like the leather marquetry used for the Howl’s Moving Castle Calcifer mini Puzzle bag or the embroidered William De Morgan collaboration. Here’s to another decade of exciting collaborations and creative iterations of the Loewe Puzzle bag!
