6 Leading Artists Leave Their Mark on Louis Vuitton’s Iconic Capucines Handbag

The beauty of creative collaboration lies in the seamless integration of classic style with fresh, innovative flair -- so when Louis Vuitton invited six artists to reinvent their iconic Capucines bag, we knew there was something special in store for us. The new, vividly colourful, limited-edition ArtyCapucines Collection features six distinctive reinterpretations of the luxury French label’s handbag, as visualised by leading contemporary artists from around the world including American artists Sam Falls, Tschabalala Self, Alex Israel and Jonas Wood; along with Swiss visual artist Urs Fischer and South African artist Nicholas Hlobo. Originally introduced in 2013, the Capucines bag is named after Rue des Capucines, the famous Parisian street where Louis Vuitton opened their first store in 1854. It soon became one of their most successful creations, known for its structured silhouette that, interestingly, provides the perfect blank canvas for artists to express their imagination.  

The ArtyCapucines Collection

Sam Falls, for instance, presents intricate mother-of-pearl work on the LV signature and handles of his Capucines bag. An elegant jacquard weave complements the high-definition hand embroidery on the multi-coloured piece. Quirky is the theme of Urs Fischer’s creation, as he provides a playful twist with six very realistic silicone fruits and vegetables that can be attached to the white leather bag with gold-coloured hardware. Much like adding charms on a bracelet, wearers can choose which item to display depending on their mood for that day. The black base of Nicholas Hlobo’s bag presents a striking contrast to the hand-sewn blue flower and its petals that spread across the piece, highlighting the craftsmanship of the knotted leatherwork and exquisite embroidery. Tschabalala Self’s artistic vision comes to the forefront with stunning patchwork of 19 types of leather, featuring 200 hand-cut and colourfully painted shapes that showcase a deconstructed version of Louis Vuitton’s monogram. The complexity of the embroidered leatherwork is evident on this bag, which features individually handmade shapes that are truly unique. The Capucines bag designed by Jonas Wood is inspired by his paintings and reflect the depth of his work in the shape of a striking grayscale printed pattern. This has then been layered with dense 3D embroidery that comprises more than 20,000 intricate stitches to create a rich tactile texture. A pink LV logo and gold-coloured giraffe charm offer a fun contrast. And last but definitely not least, Alex Israel’s brightly coloured pop creation is marked by a large wave sweeping across the bag. Two functional ‘surfboards’ emerge from within the bag, serving as holders for a comb on one side and a mirror on the other. Inspired by the artist’s famous ‘California Wave’ design, the fun, beach-y motif is a visual delight. The ArtyCapucines Collection is limited to 300 pieces each, which are available for purchase (HK$ 72,000) at Louis Vuitton stores. Louis Vuitton, G/F, Shop 7-17, Landmark Atrium, Central, +852 8100 1182

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