Volez Voguez Voyagez – Louis Vuitton, the inspiring exhibition that first opened in 2015 at Paris’s Grand Palais and then moved to Tokyo and Seoul, has made its way to the former American Stock Exchange building in Manhattan.
On Wednesday morning, Louis Vuitton offered CFDA Members a private tour of Volez Voguez Voyagez. Curated by Olivier Saillard, one of fashion’s premier historians and curators, the exhibition retraces the adventure of the House of Louis Vuitton from 1854 to the present. The historic venue, at 86 Trinity Place, was purposeful and impactful, truly taking its visitors on alte 10-chapter historic journey of the Louis Vuitton brand. Designed by Robert Carsen, the experience is unique to New York City and the U.S.
Each room chronicles Louis Vuitton’s 163-year history via themes such as Classic Trunks, The Invention of Travel, Fashion & Beauty, and The Style Room. To begin with, there is a visual history of the iconic LV trunk, which Dannijo’s Jodie Snyder Morel was particularly drawn to. “I love seeing how, over the years, people changed the way they travel,” she said. “And as fashion changed, the trunk changed with the times. The history of the trunk corresponds to what was happening in the world. It tied into so many different things, not just the luggage itself.”
Several CFDA Members joined the tour, including David Cohen, Gemma Kahng, Bonnie Young, Isa Tapia, Paul Marlow, Anna Sheffield, Amy Chan, Shelly Steffee, George Gublo, Martin Cooper, Selima Salaun, and Sang A I’m-Propp.
Mimi So fawned over the one-of-a-kind trunks on display. “I am a jewelry designer so the crocodile trunk carrying the solid gold hairbrushes and glass bottles for your toothbrush was my favorite,” she said. “Naturally, I think that we should carry on and continue that style today, it is so glam.”
As the journey continues from room to room and era to era, visitors are immersed into Louis Vuitton’s evolution. One of the final rooms is dedicated to the brand’s recent collaborations, including Jeff Koons, Vivienne Westwood and Supreme. As Dannijo’s Danielle Snyder put it, “It’s the perfect fusion of old-word-meets-modern.”
Volez Voguez Voyagez – Louis Vuitton is open through January 7.