Louis Vuitton opens pop-up in New York to celebrate collaboration with Murakami

Twenty years ago, it was the ultimate arm candy, the It bag that every ’80s star carried around, real or not. Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie, Jessica Simpson, Carmen Electra, Raven-Symoné and more were spotted in Los Angeles. On my arm is a Louis Vuitton x Murakami handbag. This colorful bag also appeared in the 2004 film Mean Girls as a status symbol, worn by Rachel McAdams’ character Regina George and Lindsay Lohan’s transformed Cady Heron.

Louis Vuitton is currently celebrating the 20th anniversary of its phenomenally successful collaboration with Japanese artist Takashi Murakami with a reissue collection available at a pop-up shop opening today in New York City’s Soho district. The pop-up store, which will be open until January 31, features a display of original archival pieces and the opportunity to purchase handbags and other items from the collection, dubbed “Chapter 1” of the re-edited collection. The first chapter features Murakami’s motifs and characters across 170 Louis Vuitton designs, from bags and belts to shoes, scarves and skateboards. Also featured is a specially tailored bespoke piece of one of Louis Vuitton’s iconic trunks. house 33 reprint print speedy bag. (The second event is scheduled for March.)

In December, Louis Vuitton teased the pop-up experience with the collection’s debut and ad campaign featuring Zendaya, who was spotted carrying the bag in 2023. The collection was originally the brainchild of Marc Jacobs, who at the time was Louis Vuitton’s creative director and spearheaded the brand’s various artist collaborations, including Stephen Sprouse and Richard Prince. After seeing an exhibition of Murakami’s work at the Fondation Cartier in Paris in 2002, Jacobs approached the avant-garde artist about collaborating. Launched as part of the Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2003 collection, the colorful designs quickly became popular and included now-iconic motifs such as the Monogram Multicolor and the Monogram Blossom, both of which are part of the Anniversary collection. reinterpreted for.

The New York City location is the only pop-up planned in the U.S., with six additional experiences taking place simultaneously in London, Milan, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, and Tokyo. The latter, located in the city’s Harajuku district, 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 own art and in his collaborations with Louis Vuitton. A tribute to the artist himself, who was born in the Japanese capital. Meanwhile, in Paris, Louis Vuitton’s impressive flagship store on the Champs-Elysees has added a cinema wall to its atrium as part of the celebrations.

In addition to checking out the collection of originals and reprints, visitors to the New York City pop-up will encounter a variety of experiences. For owners of original Louis Vuitton x Murakami pieces, a Care Station has been set up to provide restoration services, from cleaning canvas and metal to restoring hand-painted motifs, and visitors can watch the artisans at work. You can. From January 10th to 12th, a brightly decorated café will be open to shoppers, serving complimentary hot drinks and pastries on Louis Vuitton x Murakami tableware and napkins.

Amidst the pop-up space’s bold colors and modular rooms are two films: 2003’s “Superflat Monogram,” originally designed by Murakami and directed by Mamoru Hosoda, and 2009’s animated short “Superflat First Love.” A movie theater has also been set up where you can watch movies. Both films have been remastered since their original release.

The Louis Vuitton x Murakami pop-up in New York City runs through January 31st at 104 Prince Street. For more information, please visit louisvuitton.com.