Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez’s spring 2026 debut for Loewe marked the beginning of a major anniversary year for the Spanish luxury house. Their first season coincided with the 50th anniversary of the Amazona, Loewe’s first named handbag, while 2026 also celebrates the brand’s 180th year. To open the milestone celebrations, the designers reintroduced the Amazona in a new form, the Amazona 180, adapting the classic work bag for modern hybrid lifestyles. The updated version keeps the spirit of the original while shifting it into a more relaxed, contemporary shape.
The Amazona 180 is the most dramatic reinterpretation of the bag yet. It hangs from a single top handle, with the missing second handle replaced by a more open, less structured design that reflects the decline of daily commuting. Made in calfskin with a subtle sheen and soft hand, the bag is intended to slouch naturally when worn open, with its zip-top collapsing into a looser silhouette. A simplified Loewe logo appears inside, reduced from four interlocking Ls to two. That mix of respect for heritage and a willingness to disrupt it defines McCollough and Hernandez’s approach to the house.
Loewe’s long history helps explain why this balance feels natural. Founded in Madrid in 1846 by a group of leather artisans, the workshop originally made vanity kits, travel cases, and unusual commissioned objects. German businessman Enrique Loewe Roessberg joined the collective in 1872, bringing technical precision to its craftsmanship. The house became official supplier to the Spanish crown in 1905 and later attracted Hollywood stars such as Rita Hayworth, Marlene Dietrich, Sophia Loren, Ava Gardner, and others who visited its Gran Vía flagship in the 1950s.
In the 1970s, Loewe began working with designers including Karl Lagerfeld and Giorgio Armani. The Amazona was introduced in 1975 by Dario Rossi and became one of the house’s defining accessories. Named after the warrior women of Greek mythology, it was designed as a softened briefcase for the growing number of working women. Its flexible structure, durable handles, protective corners, and signature Anagram made it practical and recognizable. Long before the rise of the “It bag,” it had already become a commercial success and a brand emblem.
The Amazona has continued to return in new versions over the years, from Stuart Vevers’s white resort 2009 interpretation to Jonathan Anderson’s smaller square design for fall 2021. It has also remained a favorite among celebrities including Kate Moss and Madonna. The new Amazona 180 now anchors an anniversary capsule collection and campaign featuring artist David Shrigley’s lion motif, a playful reference to Loewe’s name. The character appears across other Loewe bags and accessories, extending the house’s archive with humor and whimsy.
