The Capucines is but one of many Louis Vuitton icons. Named after the rue Neuve-des-Capucines where the maison’s founder opened his first store in 1854, it’s a structured top-handle design that’s balanced with smooth curves on each side. The LV initials are beautifully etched in metal hardware right at the top. And for added functionality, there’s also a detachable shoulder strap.
In essence, the Capucines is the kind of leather bag that’s refined yet not bound by serious conventions.
An exceptional example of that characteristic is the Louis Vuitton Artycapucines project that is now on to its fourth chapter. Each has seen the Capucines acting as a blank canvas and reimagined by artists — not necessarily belonging to any one genre of artistry — in a myriad of ways.
Artycapucines Chapter 4 introduces the works of six more contemporary artists the world over: Daniel Buren, Kennedy Yanko, Park Seo-Bo, Amélie Bertrand, Peter Marino, and Ugo Rondinone. The designs were conceptualised by the aforementioned artists and then handed over to the expertise of the Louis Vuitton artisans — a collaborative effort of creative excellence and craft.
Each Artycapucines is made differently with techniques specific to each idea. Kennedy Yanko’s interpretation, for example, is a sculptural piece that was first 3D-printed to form a foundation. This mould was used to apply the leather (printed with rust and weathering effects) that’s then moulded and stiffened. The bag is also designed to be used as a clutch, with an interior pocket that doubles up as a hand grip.
Louis Vuitton fans may already be familiar with Daniel Buren. The artist was responsible for turning the glass sails of the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris into a multicoloured temporary artwork. For Artycapucines Chapter 4, his signature black-and-white stripes have been applied to the bag’s reworked semicircular top handle. His design also features a half-and-half treatment where the front and the back of the bag are done in contrasting colours — available in four different variations, a first for the project.
Also for the first time, each bag in the series comes with its own dedicated gift box. And if that’s not already something to lust after, each design is limited to only 200 worldwide (only 50 of each of Buren’s four variations have been made).
The Artycapucines Chapter 4 collection is now available.
