LOEWE Designs New Workwear for Art Conservation at the Prado

Summary

• LOEWE has designed new restoration lab coats for the art restorers at Prado Museum
• The coats prioritize comfort, durability, and functionality, with non-reflective materials and larger leather pockets for brushes

LOEWE has designed a new series of specialized lab coats for the restoration department of the Museo Nacional del Prado (Prado Museum). Crafted with the Maison’s signature savoir-faire, these garments are described by the restorers as “second skins”. They are worn daily as the team performs the meticulous, behind-the-scenes work of preserving world-renowned masterpieces, including Velázquez’s “Las Meninas”and Bosch’s “The Garden of Earthly Delights.”

The design of the coats prioritizes strict functional requirements to ensure they do not interfere with the delicate restoration process. Each coat is constructed from high-quality materials specifically chosen to prevent light from reflecting onto pictorial surfaces, while also offering enhanced durability and comfort. A key technical feature includes the development of larger, LOEWE leather pockets with secure closures. These are strategically designed to hold longer brushes, allowing restorers to lean closely into paintings without their tools impeding their movement or the artwork.

This collaboration is rooted in a shared passion for heritage and the arts, with LOEWE committing to support the museum’s vital work by providing these handmade coats on an annual basis. Creative directors Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez noted that the project was inspired by a 2025 visit to the workshop, where they observed the “depth of skill, patience and historical responsibility” required of the restorers. This initiative further expands the relationship between the LOEWE FOUNDATION and the Prado, which previously launched the “Writing the Prado” program in 2023 to champion craft and literature.