Louis Vuitton x Rei Kawakubo Holes Tote

Louis Vuitton was one of the first luxury labels to focus on the use of artistic collaborations to create limited edition collections. Starting in 1996 with a “Celebration Monogram” collection, contributed to by seven famous fashion designers in honor of the 100th birthday of the brand’s monogram print, and later under Marc Jacobs creative direction in the early 2000s, collaborations have become part of the brand's DNA.

To celebrate the brand's 160th birthday in 2014, Louis Vuitton reached out to six revolutionary designers to reinvent the brand's iconic Monogram Canvas in their own signature style. Among these six "Iconoclasts" was Rei Kawakubo, head designer and founder of Comme des Garcons.

Kawakubo took a straightforward approach to disrupting the monogram, and cut physical holes into the bag. This raw, burnt-edge style is a nod to Comme des Garcons' iconic design sensibilities, and the brand's experimentation with deconstruction and decay. "Yet I always approach all of my work in a way that is exactly the same: I look to create something new," Kawakubo shared on LV's website. "Although there are various ways of breaking to create something new, this time I tried to play it straight: I simply made some holes in the fabric of the bag."

Louis Vuitton has kept the tradition alive and the brand continues to release collaborations that collectors and enthusiasts clamor for as soon as they are released, and for many years after they are discontinued.

This particular contemporary and unique tote features rolled leather top handles with brass links, and an open top with a terra-cotta fabric interior. Shop it here!