Loewe Gate Crossbody Bag

Since its inception, the house of Loewe has been a mainstay in the world of luxury fashion. Even in modern times marked by machinery and mass production, the Spanish brand is firmly rooted in artisanal craftsmanship as well as art, which is a fixture in its flagship stores and is central to its desirable hand-stitched handbags, accessories and ready-to-wear clothing. One of the oldest high-end luxury brands in the world, Loewe was acquired by LVMH in 1996.

In 1876, German artisan Enrique Roessberg Loewe joined forces with a group of skilled leather craftsmen in a workshop in Madrid, which had been established 30 years earlier. Loewe, highly gifted with leather himself, unified the collective that now bears his name — which is pronounced: “low-eh-veh.” 

Timeless and elegant, vintage Loewe leather shoulder bags, totes, jackets and shoes are always in high demand — and contemporary Loewe fashion is no less revered. In 2013, the brand brought on Irish designer Jonathan Anderson as the new creative director (the role had previously been filled by the likes of Narciso Rodriguez and Jose Enrique Ona Selfa).

Anderson, who had worked for Prada and founded his eponymous label JW Anderson in 2008, introduced his first handbag design for Loewe in 2015 — the famed, foldable Puzzle Bag, described by Anderson as “a flat object with a tridimensional function,” a deconstruction of conventional handbags. 

Aside from the impeccable construction and undeniably stylish appeal of its wares — from its colorful but refined shirts and day dresses that merge streetwear and modern luxury to its versatile, meticulously crafted bags — what draws prominent Loewe-lovers such as Harry Styles, Hailey Bieber and others to the brand is its commitment to pushing the boundaries of ready-to-wear as well as its support of arts, crafts and culture across the globe. 

Paintings and pottery enrich the shopping experience at the company’s flagship stores in locales such as London and Los Angeles, and in 2016, Anderson launched the Loewe Foundation Craft Prize, an international award that highlights and celebrates artisans across a range of disciplines. 

Find vintage Loewe fashion and accessories on 1stDibs.

Stylish and practical, vintage and designer crossbody bags and messenger bags are ideal for all occasions, from lunch dates to errands to sunny afternoons in the park to formal affairs.

Messenger bags are a fashion staple. A shoulder bag that’s designed to be durable and lightweight, messenger bags offer comfort and convenience when carrying heavy items, and while their functionality is comparable to that of standard backpacks, you don’t have to take your bag off to get into its compartments and various zippered pockets. This is a sophisticated accessory — it sits flat against your body and provides easy access to your belongings at all times.

Our love for vintage handbags and purses goes back a long time. For as long as we’ve needed to carry around personal items to and from our homes, handbags of some fashion have been in our lives. Bag design evolved notably during the later Middle Ages to meet the needs of increasingly prosperous, sophisticated and diverse societies. As craftspeople grew in skill, and the choice of materials and dyes increased, the bags’ exteriors were embellished to please the eye and signify status. In our modern era, there is a vast range of iconic handbags and other bags to choose from.

Crossbody bags, which were designed to be worn on one side of the body so that the long strap is looped over the opposite shoulder, have been popular and versatile accessories over time, thankfully improving upon the medieval-era crude leather and silk coin purses that Europeans fastened to their belts as well as the drawstring pouches of the Renaissance, which held money as often as they did flowers and spices. These bags — as well as the stylish messenger bags that have materialized during the 20th century — weren’t bound by gender when they first appeared, and they certainly aren’t today.

For an alluring alternative to a satchel or backpack, luxury houses and various legendary brands such as Gucci, Prada, Chanel, Louis Vuitton and others offer a wide range of crossbody bags and messenger bags for the discerning bag enthusiast. Find these bags in all shapes and sizes on 1stDibs.