Story | Leslie Yip Boucher-Harris Photography | Louis Vuitton
Since 2019, Louis Vuitton’s Artycapucines collection has invited leading contemporary artists—from Yayoi Kusama and Urs Fischer to Vik Muniz and Peter Marino—to reinterpret the Maison’s iconic Capucines bag. For its seventh edition, Takashi Murakami unleashes his boundless imagination across 11 dazzling collector creations, fusing pop culture, manga aesthetics, and Louis Vuitton’s most intricate savoir-faire.
Capubloom
Murakami’s Flower Matango (2007) blossoms anew in this exuberant spherical creation, transforming the Capucines silhouette into a radiant bouquet of joy. 133 resin flowers in 115 candy-hued shades are hand-applied onto the sculpted resin body, each meticulously moulded and polished by Louis Vuitton artisans. a gold-toned smiley flower stud adorns the base—a discreet signature that radiates happiness with every turn. Inside lies a removable silver leather pouch, making this numbered collector’s piece a tactile celebration of art, engineering, and delight.
Capucines Mini Tentacle
Inspired by Murakami’s Dobtobus (2017), this mesmerizing Capucines is encircled by seven sculptural tentacles—six wrapping the body and one forming the handle.
Composed of over 450 resin elements and requiring 75 days of meticulous assembly, each tentacle features hand-painted red-and-pink tones with individually polished blue-and-white suckers.
Finished with a lacquered brass LV signature, the bag merges avant-garde sculpture with artisanal mastery, transforming Louis Vuitton’s classic silhouette into a fantastical creature born of imagination and precision craftsmanship.
Capucines MM Eye
Playful and surreal, the Capucines mm eye draws from Murakami’s Mr. Dob original edition (2016). embossed leather features form an abstract face—an eye, a yellow-dot nose, and a mouth—while a swirling 3D-printed tentacle handle and circular ear add sculptural whimsy.
A hidden pocket mirror nestles behind the main “eye,” revealing a wink of surprise. Inside, a cascade of green eyes completes this limited-edition fusion of deconstruction, humour, and exquisite craftsmanship that epitomizes Murakami’s pop-luxe universe.
Capusplit BB
This two-layer marvel in light blue crocodile leather conceals a burst of monogram multicolore inside—a playful nod to Murakami’s iconic 2003 collaboration. The contrast between refined exterior and exuberant lining celebrates audacious duality and Louis Vuitton’s heritage in precision trunk-making.
Capusplit BB (blue, centre)
Capucines EW Dragon
A breathtaking miniaturized reproduction of Murakami’s 18-metre painting Dragon in Clouds Indigo Blue (2011) wraps this bag in motion. Sculpted brass handles mimic dragon scales with enamel ombré detailing, while interior linings echo the original masterpiece—an apex of precision printing and sculpture.
Capucines EW Dragon (blue, left)
Capucines Mini Mushroom
A psychedelic forest rendered in craftsmanship: over 100 resin mushrooms, hand-polished and embroidered on mirrored canvas, create a 3D wonderland. Ten hours of artisanal work turn Murakami’s Superflat imagination into a surreal, touchable microcosm.
Capucines Mini Mushroom (3rd from left)
Capucines XXl Camo
The Capucines grows monumental. Washed khaki denim bears a skull-in-camouflage jacquard motif, with skull-shaped metal rings and a monogramouflage-inspired plaque recalling the artist’s early 2000s works.
Capucines XXl Camo (green, back)
Capucines EW Rainbow
Murakami’s Smiling Flower takes over the Capucines’ east-West silhouette in seven shades of mink fur, embroidered with metallic eyes and a grin that flips to a sleeping face on the reverse. equal parts sculpture and statement, it’s a tactile ode to optimism.
Capucines EW Rainbow (1st from right)
Capucines Mini Autograph
Signed and smiling—literally. Murakami’s hand-painted autograph and rainbow flower bloom over glossy black crocodile leather. a lenticular LV turns into a smiley face with every movement, while the interior reveals the classic monogram multi-colore print.
Capucines BB Golden Garden
Like a golden ode to Japanese elegance, the Capucines BB golden garden blooms from Takashi Murakami’s reinterpretation of Ogata Kõrin’s Flowers (2024)—a luminous homage to Edo-period artistry.
On a gold-leaf-covered body, five distinct textures of leather marquetry form a vibrant tapestry of chrysanthemums and Murakami’s joyful smiling flowers. each petal is sculpted, shaded, and inlaid by hand, creating a shimmering depth that feels almost alive under light.
Its gold-toned metal handle is an artwork in itself. using a savoir-faire technique typically reserved for fine watchmaking, Louis Vuitton artisans cut delicate brass filigree into blooming motifs, then hand-paint each translucent enamel petal in white and red. The result evokes the glow of stained glass, merging precision engineering with poetic fantasy.
Every curve and texture of the golden garden speaks of harmony between tradition and innovation—Murakami’s playful visual language meeting Louis Vuitton’s uncompromising craftsmanship. presented in a highly limited and numbered edition, this Capucines encapsulates grace, light, and modern opulence—an exquisite bridge between Japanese aesthetics and French artistry.
Panda Clutch
A radiant tribute to Murakami’s beloved panda character, first introduced in his 2003 collaboration with Louis Vuitton. This sculptural clutch in silver-toned brass shimmers with 6,250 hand-set multicolour strass, each meticulously applied to create a jewel-like glow. Its interlocking preciousmetal chain transforms into a delicate shoulder strap, blending artistry and function. presented in a highly limited and numbered edition, the panda Clutch embodies the joyful fusion of Murakami’s playful imagination and Louis Vuitton’s exceptional craftsmanship.
First joining forces with Louis Vuitton in 2003, Takashi Murakami transformed the monogram multicolore into a global icon that bridged art, luxury, and pop culture. Two decades later, this Artycapucines VII collaboration marks a full-circle moment—where the artist’s boundless imagination once again meets the Maison’s mastery of craft, celebrating a shared legacy of audacity, joy, and infinite reinvention.
