Louis Vuitton and Takashi Murakami first collaborated under Marc Jacobs the Creative Director at the time for the LV fashion house for the Spring/Summer 2003 collection. This collaboration spawned a decade of beautiful limited-edition pieces creating the beginning of an era of obsessive behavior for these unique stunning designs. The collaboration not only created gorgeous handbags but also was controversial due to its unabashed commercialist core between the fashion house and the artist. In its 2007 artist’s show “© Murakami,” a 1,000-square-foot popup store offering $960 Louis Vuitton handbags, opened at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles. Art critics like Dave Hickey complained about the way “the museum [has turned] into a sort of upscale Macy’s,” 

The Artist .

Takashi Murakami is well known as a leader in Japanese neo-pop art. His artwork is reputable for it’s colorful, cheerful and cartoonish feel. His collaboration with Louis Vuitton fashion house proved to be a success for both the artist and Louis Vuitton. Takashi Murakami is well know for creating art that is characterized by a hard-edged with the use of largely flat color exemplifying intricate details. He is known to use the Adobe Illustrator, a vector drawing programs  in his early  career in order to replicate a more graphic feel to his original paintings.

The Monogram Multicolor collection (2003):

 The inaugural of the 2003 Murakami Multicolore Monogram collection created the “it” bag.  The bag collection described as a “monumental marriage between art and business” by creative director Marc Jacobs.  The Murakami multicolore handbag collection is designed in the usual monogram but with a little spark of playfulness seen in the monogram printed canvas. It has a very kawaii (that’s Japanese for “cute”) feel with designs perked up by computerized prints of little flowers and cartoon creatures.  The canvas print comprised of 33 different colors to create the well-known Monogram pattern. It is available in two main color choices, black or white, with pops of colorful monogram on both.

The multicolore designs are now as iconic as the brand’s original brown monogram design.  The collaboration also created a revolutionary quid-pro-quo partnership, lifting Murakami from art world star to bona fide status.

The monogram multicolore collection was discontinued in 2015 after 12 years, this made it the longest artist collaboration the brand has ever had. This handbag collection is known as both Monogram Multicolor collection and   “Monogram Multicolore” in French.

Cherry Blossom (2003),

In 2004 and 2005 he added an actual cherry print and denim. The Cherry Blossum was immortalized as the must-have bag for teens and 20-somethings when it appeared on the arm of Regina George in Tina Fey’s hit Mean Girls in 2004.

 Panda (2004),

The character Puti Panda , wearing yje Vuitton logo on its ears were sold in Vuitton stores in the form of cuddly toys and key rings.

 Cerises (2005),

The cerises print design was a series of  6 stage screen printing process to attain the complicated pattern on the canvas.  The Louis Vuitton Monogram Cerises Line is a limited-edition collection of Spring/Summer 2005. The Cerise design utilized more than 15 different pigments to capture the bright and shimmery colors of the cherries.

 Monogramouflage (2008)

The Monogramouflage collection is a mix between high fashion and camoflauge combative gear. This comprises of the Monogramouflage speedy 35, Monogramoufage Keepall 55, Monogramouflage Pegase 60, Monogramouglage passport cover, iphone case, Ceninure , Treillis, Stole, Bandeau, Jasmin and Lys. 

 Cosmic Blossom (2010). 

Cosmic blossom was created by Takashi Murakami to celebrate the six year of collaboration with Louis Vuitton brand. A video titled “Superflat First Love” in which a young Japanese girl meets Gaston Vuitton through a magical chest that allows one to travel through time in manga universe. This magical chest (representing the brand) a symbol was sold in many of the Vuitton shops. This created the iconic chest representing the brand and his own universe symbolized with the character of Puti Panda and the color monograms)

Star Power driving demand .

It seems that the discontinued Monogram Multicolor designs are making a huge comeback. These highly coveted pieces are only available on the resale market today, which has led to a considerable increase in both search and sales of this collection. Prices continue to increase over recent years, especially for certain popular models, prices for various models have seen to have increased 200% in the past two years, and it still sells as soon as it hits the shelf.

Celebrities love the Monogram multicolored bags and this have contributed to its increase in demand and price.  Monogram Multicolor designs instantly became some of the most sought-after accessories in the world after being seen on celebrities like Jessica Simpson, Naomi Campbell, and Paris Hilton. With the rising influence of pop culture and the “It” bag trend during the 00s.

Scarcity due to the discontinuation in manufacturing of this model has also contributed to increases in prices.