Louis Vuitton x Murakami: Revival of a 2000s Icon

French luxury brand Louis Vuitton and renowned contemporary artist Takashi Murakami celebrate the 20th anniversary of their iconic collaboration by launching an extensive re-edition collection. This release includes Chapter 1, which debuted earlier this year, and Chapter 2, launching now in March.

WORDS Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Courtesy of Louis Vuitton

I can vividly remember flipping through the pages of fashion magazines in the early 2000s and spotting the now iconic Louis Vuitton x Murakami bags on the arm of every celebrity and model of the time. It was an era-defining collaboration. Now, two decades later, the luxury brand and Japanese artist are rekindling their legendary partnership with an exciting, reimagined collection, set to be unveiled in vibrant chapters throughout 2025.

The Partnership That Shaped a Design Era

The original Louis Vuitton x Murakami collection debuted in 2003 under the creative direction of Marc Jacobs and quickly became one of the most iconic and influential fashion collaborations of its time. It spawned the now-common practice of luxury brands collaborating with contemporary artists.

The collaboration lasted for more than a decade, featuring numerous iterations and exclusive releases, but was ultimately discontinued in 2015. Since then, pieces from the early collections have become highly sought after on the vintage resale market (the surge in popularity is thanks to a renewed interest in Y2K pop-culture and fashion).

Breathing New Life into the Collaboration

Chapter 1

Louis Vuitton x Murakami once again combines Louis Vuitton’s unwavering dedication to creativity, innovation, and craftsmanship with Takashi Murakami’s vibrant aesthetic and whimsical characters. In this new collection, the artist’s playful works from the original collaboration are celebrated and showcased across a diverse range of Louis Vuitton’s most renowned and coveted women’s leather goods and accessories, including bags and perfumes.

Collection highlights include the Monogram Multicolore – the original motif – rendered on numerous City Bags including the Keepall, the Coussin, the Dauphine, the OnTheGo and the Speedy, as well as on belts, wallets, wedge espadrilles, and the eye-catching Rolling Trunk. Murakami’s character Superflat Panda appears on items like sneakers, keyrings, and even skateboards.

Chapter 2

Launching this March, Chapter 2 is a celebration of Japan’s cherry blossom season. The 20-year anniversary re-edition of the original collaboration features Japanese master artist Takashi Murakami’s exquisite Cherry Blossom motif meticulously rendered upon more than 40 of the House’s creations, including a range of City Bags, Art of Travel luggage, a collection of smaller leather designs, and the brand’s Spell on You perfume. | eu.louisvuitton.com

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