Louis Vuitton and Takashi Murakami reunite for explosive Artycapucines Collection at Art Basel Paris

Louis Vuitton and Japanese pop artist Takashi Murakami are back together for a second “honeymoon.” Following a high-profile reissue of their early-2000s iconic collaboration, the French fashion house and the pop-art maestro have joined forces once again to unveil the Artycapucines Collection at Art Basel Paris, reports WWD.

The collection features 11 Capucines bags, each inspired by Murakami’s signature works—from his famous Panda to the smiling flower motifs. Every piece is a work of art: bold, sculptural, and exquisitely detailed.

Murakami admitted he was amazed by technological advances since their first collaboration with Louis Vuitton in 2003, when he worked with then-creative director Marc Jacobs to create the legendary Monogram Multicolore line. This year, the House reissued the line—extending from handbags and jewelry to skateboards and perfumes.

The new series takes creativity even further. Standout pieces include:

• Capucines Mini Tentacle – a pink bag wrapped in sculpted tentacles, inspired by Murakami’s DOBtopus sculpture. Each bag takes 75 days to craft, with every detail—from resin suckers to lacquered elements—assembled by hand.

• Capucines BB Golden Garden – covered in gold leaf with a five-texture leather mosaic, paying homage to Edo-era Japanese artist Ogata Korin.

• Panda Clutch – a mini clutch encrusted with 6,250 crystals.

• Capubloom – a sphere of 3D flowers in 115 shades, referencing the Flower Matango sculpture displayed at Versailles.

• Capucines Mini Mushroom – a silver bag “sprouting” colorful resin mushrooms.

At the Louis Vuitton stand, a towering eight-meter octopus sculpture captured attention, symbolizing the artist’s perpetual tension between art and commerce. Murakami commented, “Sometimes it feels like I’m ‘devouring myself’ with so many collaborations. But the octopus is my way of laughing at myself and confronting those fears.”

Reflecting on the creative process, Murakami added, “Twenty years ago, changing the monogram colors was revolutionary. Today, everyone does it. I just want to support Louis Vuitton’s team in exploring creativity.”

All pieces from Artycapucines VII – Louis Vuitton x Takashi Murakami will be released in limited editions, with prices and quantities kept under wraps.

The original collaboration in the early 2000s became an instant cult hit, with multicolor monogram bags spotted on Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian, Jessica Simpson, and even Regina George in Mean Girls.