Like many Japanese children, I grew up watching Ghibli movies. Spirited Away is one of my all time favorite Ghibli movies, and will always have a special place in my heart. I remember going to the theaters in Japan when I was 10, the same age as Chihiro in the movie, and it resonated with me SO much at the time.
Loewe is one of my favorite luxury brands. Their pieces are understated and timeless, and are amazing quality. They are known for their high quality leather goods, and while extremely pricey, made to last. I’ve had a belt from them for years and years, and it still looks brand new.
When Loewe did their first Ghibli collection last year with My Neighbor Totoro, I couldn’t wait to purchase something. But of course, I wasn’t the only one, and even though I had signed up for the presale I wasn’t able to purchase my items I wanted. The collection is also sold in select stores, but of course none are even remotely near me. I could have purchased a different item in the collection, but for such a splurge I really wanted to get something I would have and enjoy for years, not just to buy an item to have a piece from the collection.
When I saw Loewe was doing a special collection with Spirited Away, I knew I couldn’t miss out this time. I signed up for the presale as fast as I could, and kept checking their Instagram and other luxury blog sites to see any sneak peeks or previews so I could check ahead of time what I wanted.
Being a Ghibli collection, most of the items in the collection were colorful and quirky, and fitted so well with the movie. But didn’t exactly fit my personal aesthetic. But then I saw the small leather goods. They had a card holder/wallet with the Susuwari (Soot Sprite), which is a character that appears in both Spirited Away and Totoro. It’s a cute little black fuzzy character with long limbs that is recognizable to anyone who knows Ghibli. To me they’re adorable and brings back such nostalgia from my childhood. I knew that THIS was the item I had to have. Getting a cardholder form this collection was the prefect fit for me, it’s a lower priced item in the collection (but still quite the splurge), and something I would actually use and treasure for years to come.
I knew trying to get this cardholder was going to be a challenge. I signed up for the presale last time and didn’t get anything, how could I make this time be different??
The key for me during this experience was PATIENCE. A collection like this is limited edition, and probably more website traffic than a luxury site was used to, so of course there were some hiccups. It was slow to load, everything took forever to open, it was clear they were having serious technical issues. But I stayed patient, and didn’t refresh anything and let it load in it’s own time knowing that refreshing would just slow down the process. Since I knew exactly what I was looking for, I quickly scrolled though the site, found what I was looking for, and checked out as fast as I could. Since items in your cart are not guaranteed or put on hold, I always try to check out as quickly as I can when possible! Signing up for an account or log in with the website ahead of time can also help make the check out process faster.
I received my cardholder/wallet within a week of ordering it, and considering it was free shipping AND came directly from Spain, I was thrilled. The packaging was stunning. The box had a cover that was a scene from the movie, something that isn’t available regularly. Everything was true to Loewe style, but with Spirited Away imagery, which made it feel so special. The cardholder exceeded my expectations as well. I’ve seen them in store before and I thought it’s the perfect size and has a zipper compartment which I love, but the surprise was the details on the wallet that were not visible online. The candies (compeito) that are featured on the wallet are metallic, which adds such a fun and playful touch! Inside the wallet was a pop of color, and featured the Ghibli logo Totoro.
Now that I have a limited edition collection item, I don’t really see myself getting another one for a while but I’m thrilled to have been able to snag one!
For anyone who is looking to purchase a limited collection item online, below are some recommendations based on my experience:
- If possible, get as much information on the release as possible
- Is there a presale, when is the release, what items do you want, will there be a restock etc. Getting to know as much as you can before the release starts gives you the best advantage! I usually follow the brands on IG and check their stories and posts to see if there’s any updates
- Be patient!
- As tempting as it is to just keep refreshing until it works, sometimes you need to just let things go at is own pace. Now that being said, I had multiple tabs and screens open, but I let the pages load fully before trying to refresh.
- When possible, create an account or sign up ahead of time to be able to check out faster
- Having your email, address, and other information in your account prior to the release date can help make checking out faster. Even a few seconds can make a huge difference!
- Have your payment information in front of you and ready!
- I find that with drops like these, timing is everything. Having your credit card in front of you ready to go will help you be prepared and ready to check out as soon as you can.
- Get it if you’ll regret it
- Limited edition collections usually don’t have restocks, so if you have the chance to buy something, grab it while you can because you most likely won’t get a second chance at it. If the store has a free shipping and you can return, what do you have to lose??
The above tips helped me, but they may not help in every case. Timing and luck are also a huge part of it. If you have a special piece in mind you want but couldn’t get it the first round, resale sites are always great to check as well!!
Shades and Stripes 
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