Louis Vuitton and Takashi Murakami: The Collaboration, 2003 to 2015
In 2002 Marc Jacobs, then creative director of Louis Vuitton, invited Takashi Murakami to reimagine the house's Monogram. The result, shown for Spring and Summer 2003, became one of the most successful collaborations between art and fashion ever made. It ran for twelve years, and its pieces are now collected both as fashion and as part of Murakami's work.
The main lines
- Monogram Multicolore (2003): the Monogram reprinted in thirty-three colours on white or black canvas. It was the defining bag of the early 2000s and remained in production until the partnership ended in 2015.
- Cherry Blossom (2003): pink and yellow smiling blossoms scattered on Monogram canvas.
- Eye Love Monogram and Panda (2003): playful motifs, including Murakami's panda character, in limited pieces.
- Cerises (2005): cherries with faces on classic Monogram.
- Monogramouflage (2008): the Monogram dissolved into camouflage, launched around Murakami's retrospective.
Art and commerce
When Murakami's retrospective ©MURAKAMI opened at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles in 2007, it included a working Louis Vuitton boutique inside the exhibition. The gesture made the point Murakami had argued since Superflat: that there need be no wall between art and commerce. Read Japanese Contemporary Art: A Collector's Primer.
What to check today
- White Multicolore canvas shows dirt and colour transfer. Look closely at corners and the base.
- Vachetta trim darkens and can spot; see Caring for Vintage Louis Vuitton.
- Interior lining: Multicolore bags often have a coloured microfibre lining. Check for stains.
- Date code: read Louis Vuitton date codes.
Questions collectors ask
Which pieces are most collected?
Limited lines such as Cherry Blossom, Panda and early Monogramouflage, and Multicolore pieces in excellent condition.
Is white or black Multicolore more practical?
Black hides wear far better. White is the more iconic and shows age sooner.
Are the collaboration pieces art?
They are fashion objects made with an artist, and they sit in Murakami's story. Read our holy grail note on the Louis Vuitton x Murakami Panda pendant.