What do major fashion labels, superstar musicians, and streetwear maestros all have in common? They understand that there’s a simple recipe for success in any given creative field: Take what you know, do it at as high a level as possible, and if Takashi Murakami comes calling to collaborate, take him up on it.
Murakami’s work is instantly recognizable, thanks to his signature blend of vibrant colors, bold lines, and a design sensibility that draws heavily from anime and traditional Japanese art. Since breaking through in the ’90s, he’s become a true household name—a rare feat in the modern art world—and over the years, he’s collaborated with countless brands, artists, and musicians, from Kanye West to Nike to Billie Eilish. Among his most prominent work of all is his iconic color-splashed collaboration with Louis Vuitton, which kicked off with an expansive collection two decades ago. And on January 3, to commemorate 20 years of LV and Murakami, the partnership returns in full force.
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton
The new collection is officially dubbed the Louis Vuitton x Takashi Murakami Re-Edition, a remastered spin on the original capsule that spans over 200 pieces. Shoes? Got ‘em. Slides? You know it. Sunglasses? Come on, of course there are sunglasses. A skateboard? Get ready to shred (if you don’t mind potentially thrashing a Louis Vuitton x Murakami deck). All of the pieces feature everything you’d expect from Murakami–bright colors, maximalist design, and recurring iconography like the Superflat Panda.
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton
“Last time when I made the animation of the panda,” Murakami exclusively shares with GQ, “I thought about the future, which, well, is basically now. From 20 years ago, I was thinking about what it would be like now, and tried to convey a message to the children in the hopes that they’d love my collaboration. I hope that these cute characters will be passed on to the children this time as well, and that they’ll still be cherished 20 or 30 years from now.”
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton
There’s something to be said for longevity in the art world. Murakami is in rarified air as a modern artist who’s managed to create such a recognizable identity through his work. He’s been at this for a while and hasn’t once showed signs of slowing down. “What I think is that artists are quite similar to athletes,” he tells us, “And we always have to give our best performance every day, even if my body shape may be a bit different to an athlete’s.” Twenty years ago Murakami collaborated with Louis Vuitton with an eye towards the future. Thanks to that foresight, another 20 years from now, everything he’s built through his work will still stand—and hopefully return with yet another killer collection.
