Exclusive 2018 Louis Vuitton Collection Preview

With this year almost at its halfway mark, all fashion minds turn to….2018!  Louis Vuitton just showed its cruise line, so here’s a sneak preview of what’s in store for next year. The collection took its cues from the Miho Museum, a building designed by legendary architect I.M.Pei. to represent Shangri-La, the mythic heaven on earth thought to be found in a secret Himalayan valley. The fusion of urban and natural that pervades Japan served Louis Vuitton as a starting point for this collection, which contrasts modernity and ancestral civilizations, futurism and poetry, and urban and natural landscapes.

”I visited the Miho Museum a few years ago and was fascinated by I.M.Pei’s concept of the harmony between architecture and nature,” says designer Nicholas Ghesquiere, creative director for Louis Vuitton. “Japan is a country I know well. It was one of the first places I traveled to when I was seeking inspiration, some twenty years ago, and I’ve been a regular visitor ever since. This collection is the culmination of what Japan has given to me for a very long time.”

Pieces reference samurai, gurative engraving, inked landscapes, ceremonial dress, the keikogi of martial arts, the Kurosawa cinematic dramaturgy, or the unique melancholy of Kitano. Urban pantsuits and architectural tunics are designed in the spirit of Hokusai. Interwoven jersey and leather sweaters recall the armor of Japanese warriors. Evening dresses shine with Noh theater gold. Delicately crafted obi belts become the fabric of tapered trousers. Handbags and clutches are decorated with Kabuki masks.

This year’s cruise collection also pays tribute to designer Kansaï Yamamoto,
who paved the way for a generation of Japanese designers by presenting his work in Paris. Yamamoto is well known for having designed most of David Bowie’s costumes. He has now created icons, symbols, and characters for Louis Vuitton bags and accessories.The caps are the work of designer Kristopher Haigh, founder of the 1K brand. Actresses Rila Fukushima and Doona Bae will open and close the fashion show.