BIMA Y LOLA unveils its first collaboration with Mexican artist Ana Leovy. This limited-edition series presents the Spanish label's signature Chihuahua bags emblazoned with eclectic prints of the ubiquitous dog breed. Comprising seven different designs, the bag is an ode to the artist's Mexican heritage and synonymous with her artistic style of vibrant surrealism.

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ABOUT ANA LEOVY

Driven by a desire to spotlight diversity, the Cancun-based artist incorporates a plethora of shapes, colours and points of inspiration in her artworks. Often experimenting with the human form, her work often features confident characters who challenge conventional beauty stereotypes—culminating in a spellbinding blend of abstract elements and whimsical surrealism. A trailblazer who has captivated many with her colourful, vibrant pieces, Ana proves she's a collaborator to be reckoned with. Beyond commissioned prints for renowned publications like Teen Vogue and The Guardian, the artist has also previously released a clothing line with Ivy & Oak and her own collection of Casetify phone cases.

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HOW IT STARTED

News of the exciting collaboration first broke last February at the Zona Maco Contemporary Art Fair in Mexico City. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the iconic art fair, Bimba Y Lola and Ana came together to create this limited-edition series. Following this unveiling, photographer Pia Riverola headed over to Ana's studio, capturing intimate snapshots of her creative process and the objects that inspire her.

THE DESIGN PROCESS

Through her own creative lens, the Chihuahua bag was essentially a leather canvas for Ana to freely reinterpret this iconic dog breed as half-human, half-dog characters. "I’ve always been attracted to mythological figures and the Mexican 'alebrijes', which are a mix of different animal parts with fantastic elements," shares Ana. Channeling the bold, unabashed personality of the chihuahua dog, the stylised figures are imbued with a dream-like, almost mythic quality. "There is no specific intention when using these unrealistic characters, except to create dreamy worlds filled with possibilities and freedom of interpretation to the audience," explains Ana.

The Mexican artist was also deeply inspired by her own pet dachshund. "It was Bimba Y Lola's decision [to feature chihuahua dogs on the bag]. I own a mini dachshund, but I love all dogs and was happy to be part of this collaboration," says Ana.

In this ELLE Singapore interview, Ana Leovy shares her thoughts behind this limited-edition collection, her creative process and the symbiotic relationship between art and fashion.

Tell us a little about the art that you do and why you like painting people in abstract form?

My work is figurative and filled with colour. I like playing with the distortion of elements and perspectives because I find it more interesting. I have a lot of respect for hyperrealist artists, but this style has never inspired me to follow that particular path. I enjoy creating a surreal and naive scene more, allowing exploration of materials, and “mistakes” to become part of the piece.

Who are your artistic inspirations?

These are constantly changing, but a few of my all-time favorites include Jose Luis Cuevas, Emma Amos and Gauguin.

We'd love to hear about the creative process behind this collection. Is this a commissioned job or did you already have an existing chihuahua series?

This was a commissioned project where I was asked to creatively interpret seven chihuahua dogs to celebrate the launch of BIMBA Y LOLA’s new “chihuahua bag”. There was a lot of freedom, I was able to play around with both shape and color for these dogs, which was fun and allowed me to create them in my own style.

What excites you most about translating chihuahua artworks onto handbags?

It’s always fun creating art for fashion, I really enjoy seeing the artworks come to life on the streets and imagine the places their new owners will take them.

Imagine a runway show featuring your chihuahua art on fabulous outfits. Describe the music, the models, and the overall vibe of this dream show.

Accompanied with the vibrant tracks of Bomba Estereo, the venue needs to be somewhere colourful, similar to Luis Barragan’s architecture—his bold colour blocks would be perfect to make the bags stand out. I would also love to see shorter models strutting down the runway. Lastly, it'll be a pet friendly show that will add to the playful, vibrant and fun experience—aptly representative of BIMBA Y LOLA and my own style.

If you could pick any celebrity to rock a BIMBA Y LOLA bag with your chihuahua art, who would it be and why?

Rihanna, because we can all agree she is the coolest person alive. I’d also love Alexa Chung, she is such a fashion icon and I love anything she wears. But if we are dreaming here, seeing Bowie or Prince with the chihuahua bag would’ve been amazing!

You've collaborated with other fashion labels in the past. Besides handbags and clothes, what other everyday product would you love to see your art featured on?

Jewellery would be interesting, perhaps playing with precious stones, silver or gold to create new shapes, resembling my style. I also love a good perfume packaging, so it would be cool to design a beautiful bottle that carries a scent that represents me.

Describe your everyday style, and your favorite brands to wear.

I really like Mexican artisan textiles and flowy feminine dresses. I live by the beach, so my style typically comprises very light fabrics and neutral tones. However, I do enjoy colour in my wardrobe, so I try to spice it up with some accessories whenever I feel it's too dull. Japanese, French and Danish styles are my biggest inspirations. I think it really depends on the mood. Sometimes I feel like being more girly, and other times I just want to wear jeans and an oversized shirt from my boyfriend, and a hat. Basically, I love experimenting with different styles and I truly believe that fashion is for exploration and having fun. I just like to wear anything that makes me feel comfy and confident.

What other artistic projects are you working on currently, and can we expect to see more fashion collaborations in the future?

I am currently working on another exciting fashion collaboration that will drop in 2025. Apart from that, I'm in the early stages of preparing for my upcoming solo show in CDMX in October.

*This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.