Sandra‘s Closet

Unveiled during Louis Vuitton’s F/W 2021 show by Men’s Artistic Director, Virgil Abloh, the Felt Line, features three iconic leather good pieces and reflect the Maison’s ground-breaking approach to circular creativity. Designed using several eco-responsible materials: organic cotton and recycled wool-based jacquard, 100% recycled polyester derived from existing stocks, as well as recycled plastic for the chains.

A Keepall, a Keepall XS and a Soft Trunk — a design created by Virgil Abloh since his very first fashion show for Louis Vuitton; these three staple pieces from the menswear collection showcase Louis Vuitton’s commitment to circular creativity. Moving blankets — functional, protective and on-the-go — were Virgil Abloh’s inspiration for this new adventure, perfectly in line with the sustainability dedication he has shown since joining Louis Vuitton in 2018. A real creative challenge, this holistic approach is embodied in the creation and use of sustainable and responsible materials used for each product in the Felt Line collection.

An innovative textile — the main material of the pieces — was designed using 43% certified organic cotton, the highest standard, and 20% recycled wool. The unpredictable result of this jacquard underscores the uniqueness of each leather good, on which the Monogram pattern appears and disappears thanks to a lurex thread tufting. The global process emerges in every detail of these three light and practical models, as well as in a form of stylistic adaptation. The lining comes from the House’s existing stocks of 100% recycled polyester, which have been upcycled, thus maximising the use of existing materials and limiting production. The chains and corners were produced using 70% recycled plastic with a multi-colour effect reflecting the jacquard’s chromatic aspects. For the straps and handles, an LWG (Leather Working group)-certified leather was selected, the most exacting environmental label for tanning.

Meeting all the quality and durability criteria cherished by Louis Vuitton, the three models of the Felt Line, as well as one piece of ready-to-wear, a long coat, express the choice of a responsible and sustainable sophistication. By celebrating beauty and creativity in everyday life, which is the central theme of the F/W 2021 fashion show, the Felt Line demonstrates the vivacity of Louis Vuitton’s expertise and ingenuity to provide the best response to its clients’ needs as well as the challenges of the contemporary world. All products feature the signature initially conceived by Virgil Abloh, placed on a leather patch from existing stocks. This emblem is the symbol of Louis Vuitton’s sustainable development policy, as by 2025, 100% of its products will be created through eco-conception.

«Our committed journey» is Louis Vuitton’s sustainable development plan, in line with the LIFE360 (LVMH Initiatives For the Environment) plan. Through six lines of action, it aims to preserve natural resources (sustainable supply of materials, contribution to climate protection, circular approach of creativity) and to have a positive impact on society (diversity and inclusion, commitment to local communities, development of know-how).

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton has teamed up with acclaimed Swiss contemporary artist Urs Fischer on a multifaceted collaboration that highlights his playfully audacious creative vision across a wide range of leather goods, ready-to-wear, shoes and accessories.

Entitled «Louis Vuitton x Urs Fischer», Urs Fischer’s exuberant and textured reworking of Louis Vuitton’s signature Monogram is the starting point of this collection which features the Monogram’s flowers and LV initials in new hand-drawn versions that he calls «memory sketches». The resulting dream-like motifs have been meticulously adapted to suit each specific product across this comprehensive collection, changing in size, perspective, colour and application technique.

Available in two colourways, black and red and black and white, this new Monogram is the collaboration’s key decorative motif, and features throughout the collection’s designs. In addition to ready-to-wear, accessories and shoes, seven special-edition bags – a Keepall, Cabas, Onthego, two Neverfulls, Speedys, Pochettes Accessoires, and a charming, hard-sided beauty case – use the Urs Fischer Monogram to particularly impressive effect thanks to an exquisite tuffetage treatment that uses velvet-like material to create extra texture and tactile relief.

The collaboration also features a series of whimsical characters created by Urs Fischer. The enchanting animals and objects are united in a playful print that fills a colourful silk square.

«Louis Vuitton x Urs Fischer» is both a perfect, large-scale showcase for Urs Fischer’s creative world and the latest exciting chapter in Louis Vuitton’s longstanding commitment to the arts. The collection will launch in Louis Vuitton stores worldwide in January 2021. For more information, click here please.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton / Pierre-Ange Carlotti

Fashion is a game. Presented during Louis Vuitton’s Cruise 2021 Collection by Artistic Director of Women’s Collections Nicolas Ghesquière, Game On sees creative freedom playing with canvas and lines mingling between the Monogram flowers and four suits of a card deck. French actor and Louis Vuitton ambassador Léa Seydoux embodies this new collection and jumps into a fantasy illusion where clubs bloom, spades pierce, diamonds sparkle, and the almighty heart reigns. Through a transversal collection, Game On plays its ace on the House’s most iconic pieces including leather goods, ready-to-wear, shoes and accessories.

Game On Canvas sees the Monogram reinterpreted on a black or white background with contrasting colours of bright blue and poppy red – a tiny heart replaces the House’s signature blossom. Here, the Petite Malle and Vanity PM in black and white make for an eye-catching statement. The geometric Square bag in white leather with a golden chain ups the ante.

The Dauphine, Speedy, Neverfull, and Keepall in Game On Monogram are adorned with enlarged suits of cards, giant hearts and blossoms in vivid red, blue, pink and purple, paired with golden hardware. A pair of Archlight trainers in white with leather trimmings sport a bright red heart, perfect to pair with the Paname bags duo. The queen of hearts, the Monogram Heart bag, stands true to its name as the first ever heart shaped bag. Raising the stakes, Capucines BB in white Taurillon leather and the Twist in white Epi leather complete this game of illusion.

My three favorites: Dauphine, Speedy and the Archlight trainers.

A royal flush, the collection expresses a particular art of living that keeps the trunk-making heritage alive. It’s the symbolism of a deck of cards, the traveller’s loyal companion, endless entertainment that cultivates togetherness. Game On is a lighthearted adventure in which all of the House’s spheres of expertise play a role, driven by passionate craftsmanship, their winning hand.

Already available in selected Louis Vuitton stores worldwide.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton is breathing a new graphic rhythm into its men’s leather goods lines, LV Epi Initials and LV Epi Patchwork Graphite. Damier Graphite canvas and Epi leather are brought to life with touches of pop colour, combining the iconic House’s signatures with the LV Circle from F/W 2017.

Both collections place Epi leather in the spotlight. Launched in 1985, it features a distinctive grain and textured effect. Over the years, the first coloured leather to be introduced at Louis Vuitton has been dressed in a selection of strong, tangy, cool or deep colours. Here it is available in navy blue and black, punctuated with flashes of pop blue, acid green, and burgundy with a touch of Damier for the LV Epi Patchwork Graphite, or accompanied by the LV Circle signature for the LV Epi Initials line.

Available in four iconic Louis Vuitton shapes, the Danube, the Christopher backpack, the Bumbag and the Keepall, the shapes complement one another in a combination of highly generational styles and colours. The small leather goods reveal coloured linings, as does the trio of Damier Graphite canvas pouches that nest together like Russian dolls.

A perfect compromise between suppleness and structure, LV Epi Initials & Patchwork Graphite meet the needs of today’s city dwellers. These striking, casual collections will appeal to leather enthusiasts as well as cool, free-spirited personalities.

Available from May 31st 2019 in Louis Vuitton stores and on louisvuitton.com.
And needless to say, those pieces would also look good on us women!

LoL, Sandra

© Louis Vuitton
Photographer: Joseph Molines
Model: Leonard Mushiete @REBEL MANAGEMENT

Finally there is something that really gets me excited for football. LOUIS VUITTON celebrates the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ with three unique projects of which one has really caught my eye. Gosh, I would love this to be my new living room centerpiece…

The FIFA World CupTM Official Match Ball Collection Trunk is a remarkable
celebration of the shared savoir-faire of Louis Vuitton and adidas’s. The result of this collaboration is an instant collector’s item based on Louis Vuitton’s classic wardrobe trunk. Handmade in the workshops at Asnières, the new trunk is covered in Monogram canvas and has traditional brass corners and lock. Once opened, however, it reveals its surprising contents of 14 footballs: 13 specially made reeditions of all the Official adidas Match Balls used at the FIFA World Cup™ – from the original, iconic Telstar first made in 1970 to this year’s Official Match Ball – each displayed on a shelf made of beech wood and with descriptive tags in Louis Vuitton’s trademark natural cowhide leather.

An additional Louis Vuitton football made in natural cowhide leather will accompany the collection. Only the second football ever made by Louis Vuitton, the ball will also be available to purchase separately.

Since 2010, Louis Vuitton provides a travel case for one of the world’s most sought-after, legendary trophies of the world which will be unveiled when the FIFA World Cup™ Trophy is presented at the opening match and at the final of this year’s tournament. Thanks to intelligent openings at the top and the front of the case, the trophy can be easily accessed when it is presented before the final in Moscow on July 15th.

But this is not enough. Moreover Louis Vuitton launches for the first time a 2018 FIFA World Cup™ official licensed product collection – a new leather good collection inspired by the legendary official match ball of the 1970 FIFA World Cup™, the capsule will showcase unique versions of Keepall and Apollo bags, and a selection of small leather goods.

Made with the House’s iconic Epi leather first introduced in the 1920s, most of the styles will be proposed in 3 colour combinaisons. The hexagon design is created using a three-stage embossing procedure that is both innovative and based upon the House’s historic savoir-faire, allowing each coloured hexagon to have a richly textured feel, reminiscent of classic footballs.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton

This morning while I was working on another post, I got an e-mail from Louis Vuitton that made my heart leap with joy and that I wanted to share with you immediately. The French Maison is collaborating with Jeff Koons for a collection called «Masters» for which the famous American pop artist remixes the iconic artworks of the old masters and presents them in a way that encourages new interpretations.

Balloon Dog (Orange) © Jeff Koons
signed and dated ‘Jeff Koons 1994-2000’ (on the underside) , mirror-polished stainless steel with transparent color coating , 121 x 143 x 45 in. (307.3 x 363.2 x 114.3 cm)
Executed in 1994-2000. This work is one of five unique versions (Blue, Magenta, Orange, Red, Yellow).

With Jeff Koons in New York City in 2013 for the Balloon Venus launch event with Dom Pérignon.

Since Marc Jacobs enlisted Stephen Sprouse to create the now-iconic graffiti range in 2001, Louis Vuitton has led the way in the fashion/art collaboration stakes. Koons, whose Balloon Dog (Orange) holds the record for the most expensive art work by a living artist after it sold for $58.4 million at Christie’s New York in November 2013, follows in the footsteps of Takashi Murakami, Richard Prince, Daniel Buren and Damien Hirst by partnering with Louis Vuitton.

Gazing Ball (Ariadne), 2013, Plaster and Glass
112.6 x 238.4 x 93cm, Edition no. 3/3
Monsoon Art Collection, © Jeff Koons

For his collaboration with Louis Vuitton, Koons seeked inspiration from his Gazing Ball series that he started in 2013 as a series of plaster reproductions of famous ancient sculptures, each one set with a blue mirrored sphere. It’s these hand-painted Old Master reproductions that appear on the limited-edition Masters range of iconic Louis Vuitton handbags as well, from Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, Titian’s Mars, Venus and Cupid, Fragonard’s Girl with a Dog, Van Gogh’s Wheat Fields and Cypresses to Rubens’ Tiger Hunt.

The beautiful interior of the Rubens Palm Springs backpack (more photos below…)

The name of each original artist is emblazoned across the front, and their biography and portrait are featured inside. Absolutely new for Louis Vuitton is that a collaborator features his own initials on the bags. A sign for the importance of his status.

Louis Vuitton x Jeff Koons Masters Collection
Fragonard Speedy 30

Louis Vuitton x Jeff Koons Masters Collection
Titian Neverfull MM

Louis Vuitton x Jeff Koons Masters Collection
Da Vinci Speedy 30 in Poppy

Fans of Koons’ Inflatables series get their money’s worth; each piece is finished with a leather tag in the shape of the inflatable rabbit that Koons famously cast in polished stainless steel in 1986.

My personal three favorites are:

Louis Vuitton x Jeff Koons Masters Collection
Rubens Palm Springs Backpack

Louis Vuitton x Jeff Koons Masters Collection
Rubens Keepall 50

Louis Vuitton x Jeff Koons Masters Collection
Van Gogh Montaigne MM

The Louis Vuitton x Jeff Koons Masters collection will be available from April 28 in stores and at louisvuitton.com. Below you can enjoy the beautiful teaser.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton, © Jeff Koons, © Sandra Bauknecht, Louis Vuitton Malletier/Melanie & Ramon

The second half of the Louis Vuitton – Yayoi Kusama collaboration (Please click here for the photos of the first arrival in July) will hit the shelves tomorrow, September 8, 2012 – much earlier than expected. Here is your sneak preview of the upcoming pumpkin-inspired products.
Aren’t they just polka-dot enthusiastic fantastic?!

LoL, Sandra

Papillon Monogram Pumpkin Dots white

Neverfull MM Monogram Waves red

Papillon Monogram Pumpkin Dots red

Speedy Monogram Town blue

Keepall 55 Bandouliere Monogram Pumpkin Dots red

Speedy Monogram Town red

Keepall 55 Bandouliere Monogram Pumpkin Dots green
Photos: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton