And the trunk at the center of the journey: Louis Vuitton's latest collaboration with designer Marc Newson makes one of the maison's most iconic pieces an itinerary in itself.
And the trunk at the center of the journey: Louis Vuitton's latest collaboration with designer Marc Newson makes one of the maison's most iconic pieces an itinerary in itself.

First, because the trunk itself, without any contemporary intervention, tells stories of the four corners of the world it visited and the seven seas it sailed. This holdall, which has always been a symbol of sophistication and a seal of aristocracy for its owners, contains an imagery of journeys from the past, when transatlantic crossings were far from allowing a hand trolley, rather these giant trunks were required, which served so much, from sumptuous wardrobes to couture looks that would move between continents almost flawlessly, as well as safes for personal beauty belongings, part of obligatory self-care rituals, and essential accessories such as bags and jewelry and shoes. This accessory du jour with regard to travel has become so symbolic of the name Louis Vuitton - it is no coincidence that the word trunk continues to be the best word to identify it, since to speak of trunk Vuitton is to validate an universal mental image - that when it came time for Marc Newson to make an artistic intervention, the exterior of this massive suitcase remained untouched. “The trunk is an object of great historical significance, not just for the Maison, but for travel in general. Traveling used to be a romanticized event, a quality that has been lost nowadays. This holdall is, in many ways, emblematic of this era of yesteryear, suffice it to say that it would be slightly uncomfortable to travel with one of these, now, in the traditional way. They are incredible, if a little extravagant, relics of other times that Louis Vuitton has preserved and brought up to date. I especially like the concept of having something forever, and then for future generations to bequeath it. They are made legacies and inherently 'future-proof' pieces", begins by explaining the Australian designer, whose relationship with the French brand is not new. Celebrating partnerships with Vuitton for a decade, this Cabinet de Curiosités is their latest collaboration and a testament to both the house's heritage and savoir-faire (each piece is handcrafted in the maison's workshops) and the creativity and refined styling with Marc's attention to detail.
“One of the challenges I sometimes face when working on projects with Louis Vuitton, or companies with similar legacies, is how to express their DNA while expressing mine. It is in this balance that, I often say, a designer's mastery lies, since one's style should never be undermined at the expense of the purpose for which it was devised. My design was guided by the guidelines, and while in many ways I've had a greater level of freedom than I do with art pieces (rather than products), the trunk is a fundamentally practical project with a distinct function and a story, and I didn’t want to get away from it.” The creator's statement is based on the final result: with such a predetermined exterior (after all, if it ain't broken, why fix it?), the carte blanche given to him by Louis Vuitton to intervene inside the chest was used to the maximum and beyond, exploring an interior that can be translated into more than a thousand configurations. “On the outside, the trunk is a typical large Louis Vuitton trunk. The external parameters were more or less defined, in the sense that there is a pre-existing envelope, and the brief was focused on what could be done with the interior space. What immediately attracted me was this idea that the trunk can be the same as one from 100 years ago, but have a contemporary interior”, reveals Newson. “Once opened, the interior includes 19 cubes of three different sizes, arranged in a certain way, but which can be rearranged in an almost unlimited matter. This modular principle is dominant, internally: my design exploits the functional qualities of the trunk, including organization and display, in a modern and lightweight way. The smaller cubes are reversible and include a hinge on one side, behind which objects can be hidden.” What does this mean? That the possibility of arranging these cubes in different ways, with the added value of even including secret compartments, allows the customization of the interior of the trunk not to end with Marc Newson's intervention, but rather to mold it to the identity of who acquires the piece, a dimension that is also appealing to the Australian: “Personally, in my Cabinet de Curiosités there would probably be some memories, some that I would like to keep, others that I would like to hide; objects that tell me something. As with any shelving system, what I like is that it is completed by its owner. I would like to think that the trunk has a personality and that personality will only increase with its use and full of objects that reflect the tastes and idiosyncrasies of each one.”
This approach completes another idea of the designer about the piece: it is obvious that this chest is mythical in terms of travel, namely those of other centuries, but it is a practically impractical option in almost all trips today. That's why it should be seen as a decorative object that integrates the itinerant idea, but which is not included in the itinerary itself. “The trunk is an object that contains incredible iconography. I wanted to reverse the context: it's not about the piece traveling, but about the objects that are placed there having traveled and meaning something to you”, he admits. For this, it helps a lot that this is the first Vuitton trunk to allow a 180º opening, increasing this adaptability of being an integral element of the design of a space. Consequently, it also gains a new dimension that is desirable for the consumer: “I have been exploring organization systems for some years now and I always had difficulty finding shelves that I really liked. Therefore, when Louis Vuitton challenged me to make a trunk, I thought that a model concept that I had already implemented in some projects over the years could be applied again. The intention was to create a sculptural and fun piece that pays tribute to the history of this trunk. It's a highly functional shelving system, and the pragmatism of it, within an otherwise niche piece, is very appealing.” In addition to this functional and customizable side, the trunk, despite being standardized on the outside in monogrammed leather, that ex-libris of the maison, the interior also has “three color options: natural leather, which is particularly interesting to me, because it ages with time, in addition to being one of Louis Vuitton's specialties; the yellow version reflects the legacy of hold luggage, which for some time was yellow or covered in yellow suede; and the three-color version is a chromatic novelty for the Maison”, points out Newson, who also doesn't shy away from confessing that, if he had to offer this 'cabinet of curiosities' to someone, it would be himself: “It's always a challenge to find places to put my things and I accumulated ephemeris and books throughout my life and my travels.” And what better place to put those souvenirs from around the world than in an item that is a testament to the luxury of travel? Besides being a luxury in itself: “I've been lucky with the companies I've worked with and I've always strived to work with the best, because these companies have allowed me to express myself creatively and there's a synchrony between our teams. Louis Vuitton is unquestionably a leader in its field in terms of craftsmanship and savoir-faire, and it is both a relief and an inspiration to find others as obsessed with detail and quality as I am.”
Translated from the original on our The Voyage Issue, from June 2023.Full credits and stories on the print version.
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