Louis Vuitton Opens a NYC Pop-Up to Mark 20th Anniversary of Murakami Collab
Two decades ago it was the ultimate arm candy, an It Bag carried by every star, reality or otherwise, of the aughts: Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie, Jessica Simpson, Carmen Electra, Raven-Symoné and others could be seen out in Los Angeles with a Louis Vuitton x Murakami handbag on their arm. The colorful bags also enjoyed placements in 2004’s Mean Girls as status symbols worn by Rachel McAdams’ Regina George and the post-makeover Cady Heron, played by Lindsay Lohan.
Now Louis Vuitton is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its phenomenally successful collaboration with Japanese artist Takashi Murakami by launching a re-edition collection that can be purchased at a pop-up shop that debuted today in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood. Open through January 31, the pop-up store will combine an exhibition of original archival pieces with the ability to purchase handbags and other items from what’s been dubbed “Chapter One” of the re-edition collection. Murakami’s motifs and characters are featured across 170 Louis Vuitton designs in Chapter One, from bags and belts to shoes, scarves and a skateboard, as well as one of the house’s iconic trunks, a made-to-order piece that’s been custom-outfitted to house 33 Speedy bags in re-edition prints. (The second drop is planned for March.)
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In December, Louis Vuitton teased the debut of the collection and the pop-up experiences with an ad campaign starring Zendaya, who’s been seen carrying the bag as recently as 2023. The collection originally was the brainchild of Marc Jacobs, who at the time was Louis Vuitton’s creative director and spearheaded a variety of artist collaborations with the brand, including Stephen Sprouse and Richard Prince. After viewing an exhibition of Murakami’s work in 2002 at the Fondation Cartier, a contemporary art museum in Paris, Jacobs approached the avant-garde artist about a collaboration. Released as part of the spring/summer 2003 Louis Vuitton collection, the colorful designs were an instant hit and included now-iconic motifs like Monogram Multicolore and Monogram Blossom, both of which have been reinterpreted for the anniversary collection.
The New York City location is the only U.S. pop-up planned, with six additional experiences running concurrently in London, Milan, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo. The latter, in the city’s Harajuku neighborhood, is unsurprisingly the largest of the seven: Murakami continues to be inspired by the Harajuku lifestyle, its bright colors and streetwear vibe, both in his art and in creating the Louis Vuitton collaborations, while it’s also a nod to the artist himself, who was born in the Japanese capital. In Paris, meanwhile, the impressive Louis Vuitton flagship on the Champs-élysées has added a cinema wall to its atrium as part of the celebration.
Visitors to the New York City pop-up will encounter a variety of experiences beyond checking out the original and re-edition collections. For owners of original Louis Vuitton x Murakami pieces, a “care station” has been established for restoration services such as canvas and metal cleaning to restoring hand-painted motifs, and visitors are welcome to watch the artisans at work. From January 10-12, a brightly decorated cafe serving complimentary hot beverages and pastries, all served using Louis Vuitton x Murakami tableware and napkins, will be open to clients who make a purchase.
Amid the bold hues and module-like rooms of the pop-up space, a cinema also has been set up to view two films: 2003’s Superflat Monogram, conceived by Murakami and directed by Mamoru Hosoda, and the 2009 anime short Superflat First Love. Both films have been remastered since their original releases.
The New York City Louis Vuitton x Murakami pop-up is open at 104 Prince Street through Jan. 31. Visit louisvuitton.com for more information.
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