Leave it to Nicolas Ghesquière’s Louis Vuitton to turn a New York takeout box into a collector’s piece. Of all the things one might expect from the French fashion house, a sparkling vessel for noodles is certainly an amusing addition to its repertoire. But that’s only one of the many surprises in its latest Artycapucines collection, created in collaboration with the Keith Haring Foundation.
Across thirteen designs, the late American artist’s familiar characters find themselves dancing and occasionally barking their way onto the house’s signature handbags.
Inside Louis Vuitton’s Keith Haring Artycapucines Collection
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Interestingly, Haring’s history with Louis Vuitton began much earlier than this collection. In 1984, the artist customized a vintageVintageClothing and accessories that are at least 20 years old and represent the style of a particular era, valued for their quality and uniqueness. Vintage shopping supports sustainable fashion, andGo to Vintage Glossary suitcase with his signature Radiant Baby motif—a piece that resurfaced during Nicolas Ghesquière’s Cruise 2027 presentation at The Frick Collection in New York. Four decades later, that same suitcase has inspired two designs in the new collection that you’re about to meet.
Minaudière Capucines Nano Running Heart
Haring’s Running Heart (1984) receives a dazzling treatment in this silver-toned minaudière. More than 12,000 individually hand-set strass cover its surface, with the red-and-black motif standing out against the silver background.
Noodle Box New York City
This one’s more extravagant than anything you’d find at any restaurant. Inspired by Haring’s Statue of Liberty (1986) and Untitled (New York Apple) (1984–1986), the miniature container features more than 10,000 hand-set crystals depicting familiar New York imagery.
Capucines BB Holiday
Dolphins are such charming handbag companions! Inspired by a sketch Haring created in Naples in 1983, the Capucines BB Holiday brings together human figures and marine life through leather marquetry, with ostrich and karung leather adding texture to the scene.
Capucines Mini Dancers
Not all of Haring’s figures are caught in a frenzy. The Capucines Mini Dancers borrows from his ballet-inspired drawings, with elongated silhouettes embossed onto smooth white calfskin.
Capucines East-West Mini Maze
Anyone who enjoys getting lost in the details might appreciate this one. Based on Haring’s Untitled (Painting for Francesca Alinovi) (1984), the bag features a labyrinth of colorful forms recreated through bead-and-thread embroidery. Approximately 240 hours of work are required to achieve its textured surface.
Capucines Mini Figures
Love and movement come together in the Capucines Mini Figures, inspired by Haring’s Untitled (Heart). Interlocking dancers and hearts form a black-and-white composition across the calfskin body. Reproducing them in bead-and-thread embroidery takes approximately 240 hours.
Capucines BB Figures
The white Taurillon leather bag is anything but plain, thanks to a procession of rainbow-colored Dancing Figures dangling from black chain links. Haring’s signature outlines also extend across the hardware, where a bright pink character makes itself comfortable beside the handle.
Capucines Mini Symbols
There’s quite a party happening on this one. Haring’s Running Heart, Skateboarder, Mr. Boombox, and Dancing Figure become miniature enamel charms suspended from a gold-toned chain. Two yellow dancers even wrap themselves around the sculptural handle, leaving hardly any part of the bag untouched.
Capucines MM Soft Figures
The Capucines MM Soft Figures makes quite the colorful impression, drawing from Haring’s Untitled (1989). Its mirrored yellow figures are embroidered onto ivory cotton canvas, while orange outlines and a matching leather handle give the composition its unmistakable vibrancy.
Minaudière Capucines Pets
A whole pack of illustrated dogs has taken over this white resin minaudière, and frankly, they seem quite pleased with themselves. The drawings come from Haring’s Coloring Book (1985–1986), with their black enamel outlines extending all the way to the handle. Louis Vuitton even preserved the number 17 from the original coloring-book page.
Nano Capucines Dancer Hug
Who knew a monogram could be so affectionate? On this black crocodile leather bag, a gold-toned ballet dancer forms the letter L and gently embraces the V of Louis Vuitton’s signature emblem. It’s a small gesture, but one that makes the familiar logo endearing.
Capucines MM Genesis
The Capucines MM Genesis brings the suitcase Haring customized in 1984 into handbag territory, recreating its aged cognac patina and Radiant Baby illustrations through digital printing on calfskin. The weathering is intentional, right down to the smallest marks.
Valisette Genesis
While the Capucines MM Genesis transforms the original suitcase into a handbag, the Valisette Genesis stays closer to its luggage origins. Its structured silhouette recalls the vintageVintageClothing and accessories that are at least 20 years old and represent the style of a particular era, valued for their quality and uniqueness. Vintage shopping supports sustainable fashion, andGo to Vintage Glossary travel piece, complete with recreated markings, a weathered finish, and a removable shoulder strap for modern use.
Since its debut in 2019, Artycapucines has invited more than 35 artists to reinterpret Louis Vuitton’s signature handbag. Keith Haring’s contribution is certainly among its more playful chapters. Selected designs will be previewed at Art Basel Paris ahead of the collection’s worldwide release on January 1, 2027. As for which one deserves a place in your wardrobe, well, that’s an entirely different conversation.
The Louis Vuitton Artycapucines Keith Haring Collection will be available in limited editions at the house’s boutiques worldwide beginning January 1, 2027. For more information, visit louisvuitton.com.
Photos courtesy of LOUIS VUITTON
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