‘LV Dream‘: Immersive Louis Vuitton exhibition celebrates its rich history of collaboration
‘LV Dream’ by Louis Vuitton in Paris is an expansive exploration of the French house’s history of cultural exchange, with pieces from Rei Kawakubo, Yayoi Kusama, Richard Prince and more on display together for the first time
![A wall of Louis Vuitton bags in LV Dream exhibition](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nm6LiQNd4T346BKMRPRvHX-415-80.jpg)
The now-shuttered La Belle Jardinière department store, a stone’s throw from Paris’ Pont Neuf, was the first of its kind – combining a workshop and sales floor, it offered the historical equivalent of contemporary ‘ready-to-wear’ from its founding in 1824 (prior to that point, clothing was made bespoke to its wearer or purchased second-hand).
As of this month, that space – which closed its doors as a department store in 1974 – contains an array of unique fashion objects of a different kind, each drawn from the extensive archives of Louis Vuitton and the spoils of the house’s extensive history of collaboration. A record box, in the house’s recognisable monogram, created by Helmut Lang in 1996 (famously, Grandmaster Flash appeared in the accompanying campaign); a portrait of the house’s eponymous founder by American artist Alex Katz; the eerily prescient masked nurse outfits from Marc Jacobs’ S/S 2008 Louis Vuitton show, part of a collaboration with Richard Prince.
Louis Vuitton’s ‘LV Dream’ exhibition and café in Paris
‘LV Dream’ exhibition by Louis Vuitton
These pieces are part of a new exhibition titled ‘LV Dream’, an immersive exploration of Louis Vuitton’s various collaborations with internationally renowned artists, designers and cultural luminaries (the resulting objects span clothing, accessories, homeware, artworks and more). Those names are numerous and traverse continents and disciplines, among them Yayoi Kusama, Takashi Murakami, Jeff Koons, Stephen Sprouse, Rei Kawakubo, Azzedine Alaïa, and Nigo.
Other objects in the exhibition date back further, suggesting a longer-running dialogue between Louis Vuitton and the wider creative community – an early room contains an 1890 bespoke carry case for image-maker Paul Nadar to hold his photographic equipment (its design features Nadar’s signature) and a desk created by the house for British conductor Leopold Stokowski which folds away into a trunk for easy transportation. Elsewhere, a collection of decorated perfume bottles range from the house’s first foray into fragrance in 1922, etched with a playful feminine figure, to contemporary iterations designed by Frank Gehry and Alex Israel.
‘LV Dream’ exhibition by Louis Vuitton
These links between Louis Vuitton’s heritage and its various interpretations by ensuing generations of creatives provides the impetus behind ‘LV Dream’, which unfolds over nine rooms purpose-built within the otherwise cavernous space (indeed, much of Vuitton’s fashion output is defined by such imaginative leaps between eras – particularly that of womenswear artistic director Nicolas Ghesquière whose collections might include an 18th-century brocade frock coat and futuristic sneakers in a single look). Each room is thematic – ‘Louis Vuitton: As Seen By’, ‘Art on Silk’, ’Reinterpreting Icons’ are some of the titles – and includes work of the house’s former and current creative directors, among them Ghesquière, Virgil Abloh, Marc Jacobs and Kim Jones, alongside their various collaborators.
Immersive elements are interspersed throughout: one room invites you to ’get inside’ a giant version of Rei Kawakubo’s ’Bags With Holes’, first made in 2014 as part of the house’s ‘Celebrating Monogram Collection’ (as the name suggests, several of these rarely-seen bags feature iconic Louis Vuitton designs sliced with cut-outs). In another, you are entirely surrounded by Stephen Sprouse’s painted ‘Louis Vuitton’ print which adorned handbags and luggage in Jacobs’ S/S 2001 collection. The final room contains an interactive digital wall – spanning 10m – on which designs from Nico, Grace Coddington, Christopher Nemeth and Daniel Buren respond to movement (‘with surprising effect’, says the house).
‘LV Dream’ exhibition by Louis Vuitton
Befitting its description as a new ‘cultural location’, ‘LV Dream’ also comes complete with a second level comprising an expansive emporium of Louis Vuitton products and ephemera – much of it entirely unique to ‘LV Dream’, spanning books, figurines, sporting equipment and more – as well as a chocolate shop and café helmed by Cheval Blanc’s award-winning pastry chef Maxime Frédéric (together, they are titled ‘Maxime Frédéric at Louis Vuitton’). The café itself sees the industrial space transformed with lush tropical vegetation, marble tables and curvilinear booths, from which Frédéric’s various creations – among them, blocks of chocolate with Louis Vuitton’s Damier motif, monogram bonbons and a chocolate marshmallow Vivienne – can be enjoyed in the tranquil surrounds.
Wallpaper* Newsletter + Free Download
For a free digital copy of August Wallpaper*, celebrating Creative America, sign up today to receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories
‘LV Dream’ runs from 12 December 2022 – 15 November 2023 at 2 rue du Pont Neuf – Paris 1er (former Belle Jardinière department store), free admission upon registration at the Louis Vuitton website. Entry to Maxime Frédéric at Louis Vuitton and gift store is free, with no need for reservation.
One of Maxime Frédéric’s creations at the Louis Vuitton café
Jack Moss is the Fashion Features Editor at Wallpaper*, joining the team in 2022. Having previously been the digital features editor at AnOther and digital editor at 10 and 10 Men magazines, he has also contributed to titles including i-D, Dazed, 10 Magazine, Mr Porter’s The Journal and more, while also featuring in Dazed: 32 Years Confused: The Covers, published by Rizzoli. He is particularly interested in the moments when fashion intersects with other creative disciplines – notably art and design – as well as championing a new generation of international talent and reporting from international fashion weeks. Across his career, he has interviewed the fashion industry’s leading figures, including Rick Owens, Pieter Mulier, Jonathan Anderson, Grace Wales Bonner, Christian Lacroix, Kate Moss and Manolo Blahnik.
-
‘Hedonistic and avant-garde’: Rabanne’s Julian Dossena on the legacy of the chainmail 1969 bag
Paco Rabanne’s 1969 chainmail handbag encapsulates the late designer’s futuristic, space-age style. Current creative director Julien Dossena tells Wallpaper* about the bag’s particular pleasures
By Jack Moss Published
-
Postcard from Paris: Olympic fever takes over the streets
On the eve of the opening ceremony of Paris 2024, our correspondent shares her views from the streets of the capital about how the event is impacting the urban landscape.
By Minako Norimatsu Published
-
The Mercury Prize nominees for 2024 have been revealed
Charli XCX, The Last Dinner Party and Beth Gibbons are amongst this year's nominees
By Charlotte Gunn Published
-
Colourful luggage to brighten up your summer
Eschew grey, navy and black for vibrantly hued luggage that will stand out on the airport belt and add colour to summertime escapes
By Jack Moss Published
-
‘Things are not what they seem’: Unpacking the S/S 2025 menswear shows
Wallpaper* fashion features editor Jack Moss explores the trends and takeaways from this season’s menswear shows, from an embrace of ‘irrational clothing’ to couture-level craft and eclectic new takes on tailoring
By Jack Moss Published
-
Paris Fashion Week Men’s S/S 2025: Loewe to Dries Van Noten
Wallpaper* picks the best moments of Paris Fashion Week Men’s S/S 2025, from ‘hypnotic precision’ at Loewe to Dries Van Noten’s final show, as well as the latest outings from Pharrell Williams, Kim Jones and Grace Wales Bonner
By Jack Moss Last updated
-
How to wear black in summer
Wallpaper* journeys to Morocco’s Aman resort to make a case for wearing black this summer with S/S 2024’s most darkly dramatic looks
By Jack Moss Published
-
Highlights from the jet-setting Cruise 2025 shows
Our pick of the globe-trotting Cruise 2025 shows, from Dior’s takeover of Drummond Castle, Scotland to Max Mara’s season finale in Venice
By Jack Moss Last updated
-
The moments fashion met art at the 60th Venice Biennale
The best fashion moments at the 2024 Venice Biennale, with happenings from Dior, Golden Goose, Balenciaga, Burberry and more
By Jack Moss Published
-
Extraordinary runway sets from the A/W 2024 shows
12 scene-stealing runway sets and show spaces from A/W 2024 fashion month, featuring Murano-glass cacti, rubber armchairs, flashing orbs and more
By Jack Moss Published
-
Frank Gehry’s Louis Vuitton handbags see fashion meet architecture
Frank Gehry and Louis Vuitton’s limited-edition sculptural bags tell a tale of sharp design and precise craftsmanship. Here, the architect tells the story behind the project
By Jack Moss Published