News from Italy
Around Milan on the Louis Vuitton x Murakami tram
To accompany the launch of the first chapter of the collection, unveiled at the beginning of January, the streets of Milan are coloured for the first time with the kaleidoscopic Monogram Multicolor. The departure is in Piazza Fontana.
Louis Vuitton is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its collaboration with Japanese artist Takashi Murakami through a special initiative in Milan. From 8 to 28 January 2025, two historic trams decorated with Murakami’s bright signature motifs will cross the city streets, offering an immersive experience in the “Superflat” world. Passengers can enjoy film screenings, taste themed biscuits, and browse books celebrating this iconic collaboration.
Returning to designer trams, you must book online on the official Louis Vuitton website to board a Carelli, the historic Milanese tram. Inside, the tram is furnished with pieces from the collection born from the union between the “Maison” and the artist 20 years ago.
On the occasion of these celebrations, the Louis Vuitton fashion house has organised two different itineraries: The first, “cinema tram,” with dark blue furniture, creates a cinematic atmosphere, and some videos are projected during the journey.
In particular, you can watch two short films entitled “Superflat Monogram” (2003) and “Superflat First Love” (2009). Murakami created both anime at the beginning of the historic collaboration with the Maison under the creative direction of Marc Jacobs. The departure in Piazza Castello.
The second, “cafè tram,” has dominant pink tones and welcomes guests on elegant pink armchairs, recreating the atmosphere of a literary salon. Around the small branded tables, you can taste Japanese specialities. It is a Japanese “café” where you can sip bubble teas and a pop biscuit await guests, perfect to savor or immortalise with your smartphone.
In the bag collection resulting from the iconic collaboration in 2003, the brand’s emblematic monogamy was coloured with the touch of the Japanese artist, giving rise to the logomania craze. Murakami had updated the 40-year-old brown bags by completely renewing them with 33 color nuances applied to the well-known iconic monogam of the luxury world. The collaboration initiated by American designer Marc Jacobs, the creative director of the Louis Vuitton brand, with Takashi Murakami, one of the most popular artists of the period, broke a record by achieving the most successful commercial results ever.
Takashi Murakami has the energy of a child that can only be achieved with age and wisdom. A crazy genius on one side and a curious child on the other, the prolific artist is one of the biggest names in his field. The new collection Louis Vuitton and Murakami will launch in January and includes leather products, shoes, and accessories, each decorated with the artist’s world-famous floral motifs and vibrant colours. Murakami’s famous “Superflat Panda” character also appears in several new bags, wallets, and necklaces. These designs are accompanied by a series of perfumes featuring Murakami’s “Superflat Garden” and others. The second collaboration collection, which includes Murakami’s “Cherry Blossom” pattern, will be released in March 2025.
Louis Vuitton and Murakami first came together in 2003 for the spring/summer collection of the fashion house’s artistic director, Marc Jacobs. The smiling flowers and cartoon characters sprinkled on the brand’s monogram bags coincided with an era when such collaborations were at their peak and “kawaii” culture had not yet entered the popular fashion lexicon.
The new collaboration reproduces the first collaboration. Familiar flowers, Panda, and “Creatures of Planet 66” (cute characters whose hair looks like leaves) come to life again on white and black rainbows, monogrammed bags, accessories, and even a skateboard. Pochette, Speedy, card holders, and more are making a comeback, while some are coming with hardware updates and ribbon-shaped bag accessories. Of course, there’s also a pet bag.
The remastered collection also includes the remastered version of Murakami’s film Superflat Monogram. The main character in the movie is a school-age girl who is swallowed by the Panda and goes on an Alice in Wonderland-style adventure in the artist’s colourful world full of madness. There is a darkness to Murakami’s idea of kawaii, highlighted by pointy teeth, psychedelic colours, and wild, disembodied cartoon eyes. The famous rainbow flowers symbolise the hope that emerged in Japan after the atomic bombs.
Vuitton, the locomotive brand of the LWMH group, has prepared an interesting promotional campaign for the Murakami collection, which will undoubtedly be on the agenda again in 2025. The videos and artwork starring American actress and singer Zendaya, the brand’s face, are signed by Dutch artists Inez and Vinoodh.
Takashi Murakami, born in Tokyo in 1962, is a contemporary artist who has worked in many disciplines, including sculptor, painter, installation artist, and cinema director. Murakami, who became famous based on Japanese manga culture, was compared by some art critics to Andy Warhol. Christie’s, one of the most important auction companies in the world, included Murakami in its list of the six most expensive artists in 2006, and Time magazine introduced him as one of the 100 most influential people of 2008.
