Bags from the Loewe and Junya Watanabe Comme des Garcons capsule collection. Photo provided to China Daily

The collaboration is also timely as 2013 is the anniversary of two historical milestones in the relationship between Spain and Japan. Four hundred years ago, the two countries first established a formal dialogue when a diplomatic entourage set out from Tokyo to Madrid to create a trade agreement with the Spanish royal family. On a fashionable note, it has been 40 years since Loewe first became available in Japan.

"We had been talking about special projects during this year of Japan," says Vevers. "And everything came together."

The two designers set about building the collection, sending ideas back and forth by e-mail. Although a seasoned designer and certainly not a stranger to collaborations (he has worked with Converse, Levi's and New Balance), the project still worried Watanabe.

"I have participated in collaborations before," says Watanabe, "but this is the first time I have collaborated with a specific designer at a brand. So I was nervous at the beginning. But all along, Loewe's approach has been, 'Request whatever you want and we will listen.' They have been really good to me. When I rather selfishly presented what I wanted to do, Stuart just said, 'Okay, let's do it.'"

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