MANILA, Philippines - YStyle was given a first look at the Louis Vuitton Marc Jacobs exhibit at an opening vernissage held on the the evening of the show. An intriguing array of celebrities, designers, socialites and the créme of Paris toured the Musée des Arts Decoratifs’ exhibit space, which chronicled the House’s voyage — from its beginnings as trunkmaker for world travelers to its modern incarnation as fashion powerhouse under Marc Jacobs. Rather than focus on the history of the brand, the exhibit aims to show the two creators’ developments over time by juxtaposing their achievements for the brand.
Louis Vuitton began the brand when industrialization was conquering the world; the world of fashion was still for the privileged few but growing in change and openness in 1854. The lifestyle of those who could afford made-to-order luggage and frocks was rife with personalization: something Louis Vuitton, with his innovative methods and handcrafted merchandise, could offer his clients. Vuitton made trunks for all traveling occassions, many of them made to fit the first automobiles. Some of them transformed into travelling cots; many of them were meant to hold precious frocks. It was the beginning of a new world.
Marc Jacobs entered the company in 1997, a young, rebellious and talented designer who, at the time, did not necessarily aim to make the brand what it is today. Yet, his vision and capabilities, which included utilizing artists such as Stephen Sprouse to revive traditional brand logos, propelled both himself and the company into the spotlight. It was the beginning of globalization in the fashion world; conglomerates were being formed to help these brands grow, and Marc Jacobs was at the forefront of it all. “When I think of Louis Vuitton luggage,” said Jacobs, “besides it being beautiful, it (the luggage) is probably the most identifiable thing. Although the collections change, it is always about presenting an image — one where people look at you.”
The brand states its brand codes include innovation and pushing the bounds of creativity. Jacobs defines the brand as “a luxury product, a skill and a craft. Although what Louis Vuitton made were traveling pieces, what went into the making of these things, the skill, the craft — if we can do that in a handbag, a pair of shoes or a dress, then we’re right in line with what Vuitton should be.’’
The exhibit houses both what the Vuitton trunks of yore carried, which included crinolines and layers of dressing garments; and also a video display of popular culture through the eras — a testament of the time the brand has existed in and passed through. Jacobs’ collections fill vitrines. There is a giant box of confections that display past handbag styles. There are peepholes that display the brand’s heritage and creative accomplishments, and an old-fashioned reel of prints that inspired collections. Housed at the Musée des Arts Decoratifs — a section of the Louvre — it is a trip into the world of Louis Vuitton and Marc Jacobs that inevitably answers the question of creativity and success that still await the two.
A book that chronicles the exhibit is also available. Louis Vuitton Marc Jacobs runs until Sept. 16 at the Musée des Arts Decoratifs, 107 Rue de Rivoli, Paris.
Some parts of this article were re-published with permission from nowfashion.com.