Louis Vuitton x Yayoi Kusama is Back
Louis Vuitton x Yayoi Kusama is Back
By: Addie Flasck
After 10 years, Louis Vuitton has once again joined forces with Yayoi Kusama to unveil a collaboration that is so fascinatingly hallucinatory, perhaps its only equivalent is the pair’s debut collection from 2012. Yayoi Kusama is a legendary Japanese artist, now 93 years old, who is known and loved for her infinity installations, polka dots, and her vibrant, repetitive take on abstract expressionism. Kusama is so legendary, in fact, that her work has sold for upwards of 15 million USD at auction.
The collection, which was released just this month, features polka dot clad ready-to-wear, sunglasses, pajamas, shoes, trunks, and even perfumes. If it sounds extensive, that is because it is. It has been promised that Kusama’s artistic touch will reach a whopping 400 individual items. While some have already touched ground, others will not be revealed until the second drop scheduled for March 2023.
Although this is the second time the collaboration has taken place, there are elements to the release that are brand new. For instance, this is the first time buyers will see Kusama’s designs featured on menswear. In addition, some of the pieces are crafted with a technique that recreates Kusama’s flat, colored dots in a way that makes them appear “still wet” from her brush.
The chieftains of the release, of course, are the bags. If the 2012 collection is any indicator, the limited edition pieces could be even more valuable in the future. The resale value of items like the Neverfull from the first LV x YK collab are enough to make price tags from the latest release look modest, and the collection is still considered one of the most popular collaborations Louis Vuitton has ever done.
Luckily, obtaining a piece from this collaboration does not require pulling any strings or knowing anyone important. Anyone who has the cash to burn can order items directly from the Louis Vuitton website. If you are one who prefers a more hands-on shopping experience, the brand has opened several Kusama themed pop-up shops in cities like New York, London, and Tokyo.
These days, many ideas within the fashion industry struggle to remain relevant for more than a month, let alone 10 years. Despite the lapse in time, Kusama has remained at the forefront of not only her own industry, but the incredibly impermeable luxury fashion industry as well - a magnificent feat that is much more impressive than it is surprising. After all, Kusama’s capacity to reappear regardless of the amount of time that has passed falls perfectly in line with her ability to make her work stretch into infinity.
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Photos belong to their respective owners.