Louis Vuitton celebrates silk's charm with LV Art Silk Squares project
Author: Kantinan Srisan | Photographer: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton
Aug 21, 2024
“…Silk has long been a key part of French culture, and Louis Vuitton, a famous French luxury brand, is highlighting its importance once again through the 'LV Art Silk Squares' project. This time, they've teamed up with five well-known modern artists to make it even more special…”
The genesis of this silken odyssey can be traced back to 1987, when luminary creators such as Arman, Sandro Chia, Arata Isozaki, Sol LeWitt, and James Rosenquist were first invited to impart their artistic genius upon 'The Silk Road' project. Over time, design maestros like Andrée Putman, César Baldaccini, and Philippe Starck leaving their indelible mark on the canvas of time.
In 2013, the brand's silk squares got a new look with the 'Foulards d'Artistes' collection, two collections of work by famous names in street art, including Os Gemeos and Retna. Today, the full collection of artist-designed silk squares from across the decades is on show in LV Dream, the exhibition at Louis Vuitton’s headquarters in Paris.
For this latest edition, Louis Vuitton has brought together a god-tier of creative people. Starting with eBoy, the German pixel-art collective; Icinori, a Franco-Japanese-Spanish design duo; Lorenzo Mattotti, an Italian artist and illustrator; Nicolas de Crécy, French graphic novelist and illustrator; and Thomas Ott, the Swiss artist of international renown. Each has been tasked with reimagining and reinterpreting the 'flower,’ a motif steeped in significance within the Louis Vuitton legacy.
Each square is carefully washed and dried, then hand-stitched. The makers use a special technique called 'Roulottage', a Louis Vuitton secret for top quality. With all the care and artistic ideas put into them, these LV Art Silk Squares show how much Louis Vuitton values art and traditional craft skills. It's a way of mixing the past with the present, making beautiful items that feel both timeless and modern. The project celebrates silk's lasting appeal, seen through the eyes of today's artists, a real blend of tradition and new ideas.
