Louis Vuitton taps 200 creators to reimagine its iconic trunk

Louis Vuitton, founder of the now famous French fashion house Louis Vuitton, would have turned 200 years old this August. To celebrate, his Louis Vuitton empire – which started out as a leather goods outfit in 1854 – has tapped a bevy of creatives to interpret and reimagine the iconic Louis Vuitton trunk, recognised for its Damier monogram.

Dubbed “200 Louis”, Louis Vuitton has enlisted 200 global makers from a vast array of cultural fields and industries – including fashion, media, art and technology – inviting them to recreate their own rendition of the iconic trunk, either as a physical or digital object (because NFTs are so hot right now).

Those involved in the bicentennial collaboration include LVMH designers Virgil Abloh, Marc Jacobs and Kim Jones; music artist Drake; K-pop band BTS; journalist Gloria Steinem; media streetwear platform Hypebeast; fashion designer NIGO; architect Frank Gehry; and floral artist Mr. Flower Fantastic, among many others.

The company plans to release a book featuring its 200 partnerships while auctioning off the trunks for charity through Sotheby’s. Louis Vuitton has also pledged 10,000 euros to charity, after contributors were given a list of 15 global arts education non-profits to designate their donation. 

In the meantime, from August 4 (Mr. Vuitton’s birthday), images of the collaborative trunks will be displayed in Louis Vuitton store windows for 100 days. Louis Vuitton’s Fifth Avenue store in New York will feature a gargantuan digital image of the designer, with an accompanying graphic reading ‘Happy Birthday Louis’. Make a wish, Louis.

See also: Louis Vuitton turns 200: Get to know the legend behind the brand