Louis Vuitton x Murakami pop-up.
Photo: Brad Dickson. Courtesy of Louis Vuitton
Inside Louis Vuitton’s Whimsical Murakami New York Pop-Up
The fashion house is celebrating the launch of a new re-edition accessories collection featuring the greatest hits from its collaboration with the Japanese artist
Louis Vuitton x Murakami pop-up. Photo: Brad Dickson. Courtesy of Louis Vuitton
There is perhaps no fashion collaboration more iconic and impactful than Marc Jacobs’s Murakami tie-up for Louis Vuitton in 2003. The then-creative director of womenswear at the house, Jacobs tapped the famed Japanese artist to reimagine the classic Louis Vuitton monogrammed handbag for his Spring Summer 2004 collection. The historic handbag was given a technicolor makeover, with bright colored logos dotted across the white canvas. The “It” bag of the season, it has since made something of a resurgence as the fashion set turns to all things from the 2000s.
Murakami teamed up with the house multiple times over the years, from the early 2000s through to 2015, when Jacobs’s tenure ended. The influence of the partnership was important for not only being a commercial blockbuster success, but it kicked off the now ubiquitous trend of art and fashion collaborations.
Paying homage to that incredible legacy, Louis Vuitton announced late last year that it would be releasing a “re-edition” collection, which will be presented in chapters throughout 2025. Chapter One will celebrate the Monogram Multicolore, Murakami’s original design for the house. Chapter Two will launch in March 2025 with the artist’s Cherry Blossom pattern appearing across a number of objects.
The pop-up's design is inspired by Tokyo’s famous modular hotels. Photo: Brad Dickson. Courtesy of Louis Vuitton
The space’s minimalist interior is divided into distinct areas. Photo: Brad Dickson. Courtesy of Louis Vuitton
The French maison has also launched several pop-ups in global cities. On January 7, a pop-up in New York’s soho opened featuring Chapter One of the capsule. Taking design inspiration from Tokyo’s famous modular hotels, the space’s minimalist interior is divided into distinct areas, each rendered in a bright colorway.
Clients can discover a selection of Louis Vuitton x Murakami Chapter One re-edition offerings, an exhibition space showing archival selections from the original gallery, a dedicated “care station” devoted to restoring original pieces, and an eye-catching café serving coffee—in Murakami logo paper cups no less—and pastries. Downstairs, a cinema space plays two digitized Superflat movies by the artist that first accompanied the 2003 launch. The pop-up will remain on view through the end of the month.
See more photos below:
The pop-up will remain on view through the end of January. Photo: Brad Dickson. Courtesy of Louis Vuitton
An exhibition space shows archival selections from the original gallery. Photo: Brad Dickson. Courtesy of Louis Vuitton
Cover: Louis Vuitton x Murakami pop-up.
Photo: Brad Dickson. Courtesy of Louis Vuitton
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