Louis Vuitton Luggage Gives ‘Flight Mode’ New Meaning
In the current age of fashion, each label seems to stretch farther than ever. There’s womenswear and menswear, of course, but true empires of apparel also manage ready-to-wear collections, sneaker lines, mid-season capsules, celebrity collaborations, and high-end homewares. Spend enough time following high fashion, however, and you’ll notice that each brand — no matter how expansive their offerings — has a signature: the Burberry trend coat, Chanel tweed suit, virtually every nylon bag from Prada. Louis Vuitton, meanwhile, has claimed luggage as its home turf. Aptly-titled ‘Flight Mode,’ Louis Vuitton’s recent collection reminds us why the monogrammed canvas bag is (figuratively and literally) above the competition.
Flight Mode is primarily comprised of luggage, though it also includes a smattering of leather goods, accessories, and women’s ready-to-wear. Taken as a whole, the collection reads like a timeline; vivid stamps of the Élysée Palace Hotel bring new life to classic silhouettes like the Keepall and Side Trunk. Vibrant depictions of the famous French hotel interact seamlessly with the Monogram canvas bags — it’s a playful dance between past and present.
Flight Mode is more than a cosmetic tribute to Louis Vuitton’s heritage, however. Old stories resurface in the collection’s material, which reproduces late 19th-century fabric: an earthy mix of linen and cotton, covered in a light resin coat. While this is a clear wink towards the Maison’s origins, it’s not exclusively self-referential. With passport holders and travel cases, the smell of authentic leather and the feel of a Monogram pattern, Louis Vuitton evokes memories of trips past. It’s an invitation for clients to partake in the nostalgic affair, too.
Louis Vuitton Flight Mode
Louis Vuitton Flight Mode
Louis Vuitton Flight Mode
Louis Vuitton Flight Mode
Of course, there’s more to Flight Mode than recall and recognition. Grained calfskin exteriors construct new contours: the flight-ready Shoulder Bag, the roomy OnTheGo Voyage (which sports a sleek, removable belt pouch) and an upscaled version of the Horizon 55. As a whole, Flight Mode takes inspiration from the aerodynamic polish of sportswear, infusing smooth looks with technical function.
In a statement that perhaps yields more questions than answers, the Maison said the Élysée Palace motif symbolizes what’s to come. Louis Vuitton called the image “a tribute to the first Parisian luxury hotel at 103 avenue Champs-Élysées, a landmark location where Louis Vuitton will establish a new project.” While the details are sparse, Louis Vuitton’s take on the storied address will surely be a site of interest. Outlets suggest the Maison’s venture will be a smooth integration of heritage and hospitality, with the building’s façade made to reference the brand’s expertise in luggage.
Louis Vuitton Flight Mode
Louis Vuitton Flight Mode
Louis Vuitton Flight Mode
Louis Vuitton Flight Mode
Functional designs and earthy tones have a gravitational pull, bringing the Maison back to earth after an exceptionally-extravagant Fashion Week. In the context of modern Louis Vuitton, the Flight Mode capsule is a stable segue, redirecting attention towards the brand’s sophisticated signature. It’s a grounding contrast to the electric, workwear-infused energy we saw in Paris (which was ineffably chic in its own right, of course). Alongside the savoury rouges, deep browns, and yellow, egg-yolk hues, Flight Mode offers a tasteful application of slick travel graphics. The end result combines ‘eccentric’ and ‘enduring’ in a manner that’s uniquely Louis Vuitton.
