First launched in 2013 and named after Rue des Capucines, the Parisian street on which Louis Vuitton opened his first store in 1854, the Capucines bag has quickly become a contemporary classic.
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For its second Artycapucines capsule collection, Louis Vuitton has invited up-and-coming contemporary artists to redesign new versions of the iconic Capucines bag.
Beatriz Milhazes, Jean-Michel Othoniel, Josh Smith, Henry Taylor, Liu Wei and Zhao Zhao have all created one-of-a-kind handbags, adorned with a new-found personality.
Louis Vuitton Capucines by Henry Taylor
Californian artist Henry Taylor featured a portrait of his friend, the late black American painter and installation artist, Noah Davis. The painting named ‘’A Young Master’’ appears on a light mocha colored background. Taylor’s work has been carefully reproduced on the Capucines’ leather body to replicate the painting’s original brushstrokes.
Louis Vuitton Capucines by Beatriz Milhazes
Using 18 different types of leather, Brazilian artist found innovative and novel marquetry techniques to rework the fabric to the same thickness.
Louis Vuitton Capucines by Jean-Michel Othoniel
The bag’s main body in Jean-Michel Othoniel’s version was made of intricately hand-woven raffia, with black satin silk used in haute couture. Its handle is made of large black resin beads reminiscent of the French artist’s popular large-scale works, and the charm is made of three sculptural resin beads.
Louis Vuitton Capucines by Josh Smith
New York-based artist, Josh Smith’s Artycapucines is based on his signature ‘’name’’ paintings. Smith recreated two of his famous expressionistic paintings, one on the bag’s exterior and another on the bag’s inner lining. In a statement he said, ‘’I can imagine two people meeting for cocktails and my name becoming a conversation starter, like, ‘What’s that on your bag?’’’
Louis Vuitton Capucines by Liu Wei
Beijing-based artist, Liu Wei is known for geometric architectural forms. Fittingly, his Artycapucines was based upon Microworld, a large-scale sculptural installation shown at the 2019 Venice Biennale. Louis Vuitton described his bag as a ‘’sculptural creation’’ which recreated using five different types of silver leather that are molded onto the bag’s exterior or attached using Louis Vuiton-engraved rivets. The Plexiglas handle was held in place by rings covered in metal spheres in different finishes that match the original artwork.
Louis Vuitton Capucines by Zhao Zhao
The striking motif of Chinese artist Zhao Zhao’s Capucines design – it was inspired by his 2018 sculpture ‘’In Extremis No.3’’ – was almost akin to a cow-print pattern. The intricate design is made of a collage of 353 bits of leather in varying brown hues mixed with black, white and navy. Five leathers of differing textures are used. The design features all over the bag including the flap and top-handle and the bag is finished with a rich gold colored LV logo at its centre.
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©Photos courtesy of Louis Vuitton
