Louis Vuitton and Yayoi Kusama connect the fashionable dots.
Luxury fashion house Louis Vuitton and renowned Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama have given polka dots a coveted new look. The eclectic and edgy Infinitely Kusama collection is it. The capsule collection celebrates all-things polka dot in signature bold hues. Set to launch worldwide on July 9, it is an avant-garde collection that will change the way in which we view the adorable dots.
Kusama is best known for her use of psychedelic colours and repetition of detail. Said to have influenced the likes of Andy Warhol and George Segal, the 83-year-old is undoubtedly an influential avant-garde artist that’s still impacting on art and fashion today.
Louis Vuitton’s creative director, Marc Jacobs is an admirer of the eclectic artist with her signature bright and bold wigs (pink). So inspired, Jacobs invited Kusama to apply her dot detail to a modern-day Louis Vuitton collection. “The obsessive character and the innocence of her artwork touch me. She succeeds in sharing her vision of the world with us,” he says.
The Infinitely Kusama capsule collection features the artist’s signature repetitive application. In yellow, black and pink combination, the collection teams polka dots in a refreshing way.
Embracing all-things dot, the line comprises handbags (totes and purses), accessories (bangles, cuffs, scarves and eyewear), shoes (pumps and sandals) and ready-to-wear (shorts, blouses, skirts and trench coats).
The dot-inspired look has been loved and worn for years, but recently it’s taken over the runway. From Stella McCartney to Dolce & Gabbana, dots are a coveted print details. Polka dots formed part of flamenco dancers’ ensembles. The print made Disney’s Minnie Mouse character look totally adorable, and screen legend Marilyn Monroe donned a bikini with the delightful print detail in a 1951 photo shoot. Christian Dior used it in his lavish ball gowns in the 50s, and Emanuel Ungaro dedicated an entire line to it in the 80s. So teaming up with The Princess of Polka Dots is a natural and fashion-laden direction for Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton.
With a retrospective currently on display at London’s Modern Tate, supported by Louis Vuitton, the Infinitely Kusama collection is a delightful way in which to embrace the trend. To support this bold presentation, Louis Vuitton recently launched a free iPhone app offering insight into the world of Kusama. You can customise your photos with dots and share them on louisvuittonkusama.com.
Pictured above: Artist and writer Yayoi Kusama. Images courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
