Fashion and art have always gone hand in hand. We’ve seen many collaboration where art has fueled the imagination of fashion designers and fashion icons gave inspiration to artists. From Schiaparelli x Dalí to Yves Saint Laurent’s Mondrian dresses… We’ve had unique and inspirational examples of wearable art. But one collaboration that truly stands the test of time: Takashi Murakami x Louis Vuitton.
20 years ago, the luxury fashion and contemporary art worlds collided in a unique way. When Marc Jacobs asked Takashi Murakami to reimagine the LV Monogram, the result was more than a vibrant handbag collection. It was a cultural shift happening in the heart of LVMH.
From the Multicolore Monogram to the Cherry Blossom designs Murakami’s work for Louis Vuitton was the early 2000s obsession. The designs were loved by celebrities and cemented in pop culture. Now, in 2025, the ‘‘power couple ’’is back. We revisit this iconic partnership: How did Murakami change the way we see high fashion and contemporary art?
The Birth of a New Era
When Marc Jacob became the creative director of Louis Vuitton in 1997, he wanted to inject some young blood into the brand which had been synonymous with luxury and tradition. Jacobs ’fusion of modern art and Louis Vuitton’s heritage was revolutionary. He looked beyond fashion design and brought in artists whose work would change the face of high fashion. His first choice was Takashi Murakami. But, why?
Murakami, a Japanese artist known for his colorful graphics and “Superflat” aesthetic, was the perfect match for Louis Vuitton. The Superflat movement, which explores traditional and contemporary Japanese culture, offered a fresh and modern take on art that Louis Vuitton needed at the time. Thanks to Murakami, Louis Vuitton found an anti-aging formula and gained access to a highly profitable Asian market.
Murakami’s style involved flattening visual hierarchies and create bold, fun images that would translate into fashion. His collaboration with Louis Vuitton resulted in the now iconic Monogram Multicolore in 2003 which debuted in the Spring/Summer collection and was a turning point in fashion.
The Monogram Multicolore was a reworking of the Louis Vuitton logo, with 33 colors on a white or black background. Murakami’s approach to this classic design was whimsy and luxury in perfect balance. Far from diminishing Louis Vuitton’s heritage, it revitalized the monogram and create a colorful version that spoke to a new generation of fashionistas. This was more than just handbags. It was a cultural statement, an invitation to be bold, colorful and individual while still being high end.
Building on the success of the Monogram Multicolore collection, Murakami continued to work with Louis Vuitton and released several more iconic collections. These included Cherry Blossom (2003), Panda (2004), Cerises (2005), MOCA Hands (2007, for the Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles exhibition), Monogramouflage (2008), and Cosmic Blossom (2010).
Murakami’s influence went far beyond handbags. His designs touched almost everything Louis Vuitton did, from accessories to ready-to-wear collections. Collections like Cherry Blossom and Superflat Panda character added new dimensions to the collaboration, each new theme kept Murakami’s world fresh and exciting. His designs were the way for Louis Vuitton to evolve, to link high fashion to the ever expanding global pop culture.
Murakami x Louis Vuitton peaked in the early 2000s thanks to the celebrity endorsements that brought the collection into the mainstream. Paris Hilton, Jessica Simpson, and Lindsay Lohan were often photographed with Murakami’s creations, from the Monogram Multicolore Speedy to the Pochette accessoires. Their casual, paparazzi driven exposure brought Murakami’s designs into the public eye and make the collaboration a defining accessory of the Y2K era while feeling accessible and cool.
TV shows like Mean Girls and White Chicks showed Murakami x Louis Vuitton bags and cemented their status in pop culture. This organic marketing, driven by the bags being trended by the celebrity elite, became the blueprint for high fashion to connect with youth culture and media in a way that felt real and authentic. This was especially true in Japan. Some studies even said
Louis Vuitton discontinued the Monogram Multicolore in 2015. At the time, the rise of minimalism in fashion—led by Phoebe Philo at Celine and Nicolas Ghesquière at Louis Vuitton—meant a shift in consumer behavior. But Murakami’s relevance never faded.
According to Rebag, search and sales for Murakami x Louis Vuitton collaboration pieces on the resale market have been going up in recent years. Prices are through the roof especially for the most coveted ones. The Mini HL Speedy is a fave of Kylie and Kendall Jenner and its resale value has gone up over 200% in the last two years and sells out instantly.
2025: Murakami x Louis Vuitton Is Back
Now that we’re in 2025, Murakami x Louis Vuitton is more popular than ever. The resurgence is due to a mix of nostalgia and Y2K revival, with vintage and logo driven designs making a major comeback. With its pop culture staying power it’s no surprise this re-edition is making waves in 2025, with brand ambassadors like Zendaya fronting the collaboration’s latest campaign.
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the collection, Louis Vuitton has announced a series of special launches and activations to introduce Murakami’s prints to a new generation. The first drop, released on January 1, features over 200 new pieces, blending motifs from the original Monogram Multicolore collection with elements from the Superflat line, featuring Murakami’s signature flat Japanese designs. Beyond handbags, the re-edition extends into accessories, footwear, leather goods, fragrances, and even pet accessories.
Louis Vuitton is also opening pop-up shops in seven cities around the world including New York, London and Tokyo. The New York pop-up featured a café, cinema activation, art exhibitions, and a retail space. Tokyo will have the largest pop-up, fittingly located in Harajuku, the fashion capital of the world.
From Archive to Avant-Garde: Timeless Influence
20 years after the debut of Monogram Multicolore, Murakami’s designs are still bold, fresh, and exciting. His work with Louis Vuitton is the proof of the power of artistic collaboration in luxury fashion that blurs the lines between street culture, fine art and high fashion in a revolutionary way.
As Louis Vuitton continues to work with contemporary artists from Yayoi Kusama to Jeff Koons, the benchmark set by Murakami is one of the most important collaboration in fashion history. His legacy is embedded in the DNA of the 2000s Louis Vuitton. There is one question to ask: who will be the next artist to redefine high fashion and art, like Takashi Murakami did 20 years ago?
Murakami once said “I want to live to 120, because conceptually people can live to 120. Every 20 years it changes. So maybe in the next 20 years people can go to space. I don’t know what the next revolution will be. I want to watch.” Just as he changed the fashion landscape, his words remind us the world of art and fashion is always on the cusp of change. The next revolution in luxury fashion is coming – Murakami is watching, and so are we.