Louis Vuitton Introduces its Spring/Summer Collection ‘Archipelago’

June 29th, 2017: Louis Vuitton’s Spring Summer 2018 called Archipelago, was inspired by the book, ‘Atlas of Remote Islands: Fifty Islands I have Not Visited and Never Will’ and also the ideas of islands and travel as told by Kim Jones, the Men’s Artistic Director of Louis Vuitton. Hawaii, the island state, is a major source of inspiration or the new collection. Its signature Aloha shirts inspire prints and intarsia knits of exotic foliage – imaginary and new Hawaiian patterns, specially devised by Louis Vuitton.  The tailoring of the collection is presented in two shades of mohair, split down the centre, as if two separate halves have been sewn together, and a crocodile cardigan is cut with a knit reverse. The new style–the Monogram Split—is included as well and contrasts different colorways of Louis Vuitton’s Monogram canvas, emphasized with a center seam. The style is offered in classic Keepalls, re-engineered with a lateral seam; or the tote with an oversized style split vertically, including the handle. The collection moves to the next place with fitted, stretch sportswear silhouettes, inspired by streamlined scuba-diving and surfing garb, contrasted with relaxed tailoring – inspired by Hong Kong.  Bright Colors contrast the signature Monogram palette of earth tones with shades of khaki and flashes of sports-inspired neon, all ‘surrounded’ by the deep ocean blue. New colorways and treatments of the Monogram are introduced – Pacific, a cobalt blue, Oceania-inspired iteration and Reflect with a hi-vis reflective finish. This collection also includes ‘Monogram Outdoor’, which mixes canvas with sports webbing, scuba zips, cording and hardware based on the colored metal of a climber’s carabiner clips. Other styles play with the recent and closer archive – blowing up the ‘Noe’ bag into oversized backpacks, and revisiting clog style shoes that are now crossbred with hiking boots. 
The soundtrack is for the collection features the musician Drake, who has recorded a song inspired by this collection, which premiered at the show.