Murakami Makes Waves in NYC

Twenty-two years after their first iconic 2003 collaboration—in which the iconic Monogram Multicolore Louis Vuitton bag debuted—Takashi Murakami and Louis Vuitton have joined forces once again in SoHo. If the first mashup planted the seed, this one is the flower: blooming out in new directions from the original ideas.

‍

Modeled after the sleek and futuristic design of Tokyo’s modular hotels, the storefront’s minimalist, white corridor is surrounded by rooms with bright orange, blue, pink, and green walls, adorned with motifs from the Tokyo- and New York- based art star’s work. Large, open doorways provide a full view from any standing point. Within the store, there are multiple unique rooms that unfold across two floors, a cinema space, and a café. In the latter, open this weekend only, visitors can nestle among Murakami Flower cushions and enjoy drinks and pastries.

Louis Vuitton purses, apparel, sunglasses, keychains, wallets, and even a skateboard are all emblazoned with Murakami’s best-known motifs, from monogram multi-color to Superflat Panda. In total, there are over 170 designs. In a playful bonus, purchases come with tokens to an exclusive vending machine filled with stickers, trading cards, and portable games, all from the collaboration. Downstairs, the jointly built world unfolds in  a cinema space showing two remastered Murakami Superflat films—Superflat Monogram Film (2003) and Superflat First Love Film (2009).

Along with New York, six other cities around the world are hosting Louis Vuitton x Murakami activations this month: London, Milan, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, and Tokyo. While the nature of a pop-up is temporal (this one runs until the end of the month), Louis Vuitton is playing the long game: Along with the new Murakami collection, archival pieces from the original are displayed throughout, harkening back to a time when the now celebrity artist’s star was still rising. There is also a care station dedicated to the longevity of the brand’s output. Framed by you-had-to-be-there experiences and limited edition drops, the heart of the collaboration is pieces that—just take a look at the archive—just get better with time.

‍

Louis Vuitton x Murakami pop-up is open through January 31, 2025 at Louis Vuitton New York Soho at 116 Greene St, New York, NY 10012.