Louis Vuitton ‘Bed Trunk’ Luxurious Archival Piece As Reimagined by Pharrell Williams and Nicolas Ghesquière
September 25, 2024
As the art of travel evolves, Louis Vuitton has set the bar high for luxurious wanderlust by revisiting its storied past. The French Maison has unveiled two striking new iterations of its iconic Bed Trunk, reimagined by the creative powerhouses Nicolas Ghesquière and Pharrell Williams. These modern marvels pay homage to a legacy that began in 1868, when Louis Vuitton first conceived the Bed Trunk to revolutionize comfort for globe-trotting explorers.
A Tale of Two Trunks
Ghesquière, the artistic director of women's collections, has transformed the Bed Trunk into a captivating juxtaposition of future and fantasy. The exterior, inspired by his Cruise 2023 collection, features engraved metal plates and modernized corner pieces that evoke a dystopian sci-fi realm. In stark contrast, the interior unfolds to reveal a mattress adorned with dreamy floral patterns, echoing his Spring-Summer 2018 collection. This unexpected fusion of harsh metallic elements and soft, romantic florals creates a visual narrative that is quintessentially Ghesquière.
Pharrell Williams' Dandy Nostalgia
Men's creative director Pharrell Williams has reinterpreted a historic Bed Trunk from the archives with his signature dandy flair. The exterior showcases a distressed striped pattern, an homage to the legendary 1872 canvas that cemented Louis Vuitton's reputation in luxury travel. Inside, the theme continues with bold stripes, while the jacquard mattress and pillow feature Williams' distinctive "LV Lovers" embroidery—a hallmark of his fresh vision for the brand.
The Art of Comfort
Both iterations build upon the Classic Bed Trunk released in April, which features the iconic Monogram canvas. At their core, these trunks are marvels of engineering and comfort. Each houses a folding bed frame crafted from aluminum and beechwood, that supports a luxurious four-part mattress. The addition of a tiltable headrest and an optional beechwood bedside table transforms these trunks from mere luggage into portable sanctuaries.
A Collector's Investment
For those with a penchant for haute couture and wanderlust, these Bed Trunks represent the pinnacle of collectible luxury. Ghesquière's creation, priced at approximately $257,000, will be showcased at the Louis Vuitton store in Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Williams' design, available for about $221,000, will grace the Savoir Rêver Louis Vuitton event at the Hôtel Cheval Blanc in Paris. Both are available for order, offering connoisseurs the chance to own a piece of history.
Left: An original Louis Vuitton advertisement from the early 20th century, detailing the company's travel innovations, including the revolutionary "Malle Lit de Campement" (Camp Bed Trunk). This historical document highlights Louis Vuitton's longstanding commitment to blending practicality with luxury for discerning travelers.
Right: A meticulously preserved Louis Vuitton Bed Trunk from the late 1800s, showcasing the ingenious design that transformed luxury travel. The trunk unfolds to reveal a comfortable bed, while maintaining its elegant storage capabilities.
The Legacy Continues
In reimagining the Bed Trunk, Louis Vuitton transcends mere homage to heritage, boldly redefining the zenith of luxury travel. These avant-garde creations surpass the realm of mere luggage; they are living tableaux, embodying the intoxicating allure of wanderlust, the pinnacle of French savoir-faire, and the transformative power of visionary design. For the global cognoscenti who perceive travel as the ultimate canvas for self-expression, the Louis Vuitton Bed Trunk stands alone—an unrivaled totem of peripatetic extravagance, where function and fantasy seamlessly intertwine.