Name any luxury brand you can think of and Louis Vuitton would probably be the first thing to come to your mind. And it should be. Since its birth in 1821, Louis Vuitton has grown into a household name and become synonymous with the world of luxury, spanning across countries and continents with their famous monogram and quality leather goods.
After installations in Melbourne, Osaka, Los Angeles and Toronto this year, the Time Capsule Exhibition has finally reached Jakarta. For three weeks, iconic pieces throughout Louis Vuitton’s illustrious history are showcased as a testament to its rich heritage and continuous evolution as a luxury brand. Located at the ground floor of Senayan City mall, the exhibition is dissected into four parts, each emphasising on a key aspect of the house.
Upon entrance from the exhibition’s futuristic facade, visitors can observe one of their European artisan expertly crafting the monogram Petite Malle before entering Key to the Codes room. Here, the exhibition pays homage to the signature codes of the house that have emerged since Vuitton’s first travelling trunk, which are the hardware of its trunks, quality canvas and leather materials, the Malletage (straps inside trunks to keep objects in place), and of course, their signature patterns (such as the Damier and Monogram canvas). These elements have stood through the test of time, setting its course to anchor the house’s innovation throughout the decades, including its ready-to-wear garments and accessories in most recent memory.
Proceeding to Journeys around the world, the brand showcases its excellence in accommodating the challenges presented by new ways of transport. The spirit of travel will always remain deeply embedded in the brand’s DNA, as shown by the Car trunk, engineered for the first-ever car prototype in 1871 as well as the Aviette trunk circa 1939, designed to carry personal belongings with lightweight in mind upon the development of air travel.
A hallway of the brand’s timeline then guides visitors to Elegance in Motion, where it’s set to impress with its collection of specialty items the brand has created in the past. From the precious Flower trunk in 1914 that was created exclusively for the brand’s loyal clientele and the debonair wooden smoking pipe from 1908, to the monogram leather soccer ball designed in celebration of the 1998 FIFA World Cup, there is truly no boundary for luxury according to the house of Louis Vuitton.
Speaking for the name itself, Icons of the Past displays Vuitton’s most memorable pieces. Of the many collectible-worthy items, there are the iconic purses from the brand’s collaboration with famed artists Steven Sprouse and Yayoi Kusama, as well as Jeff Koons’ Mona Lisa embossed monogram bag. While the striking Supreme skateboard and trunk would surely captivate amongst all, one can’t ignore the massive leather trunk resting in the centre of the room that symbolises the brand’s prime expertise in luggage making.
Before collecting their postcard souvenir, a room filled with LCD screens, the Magic Malle, takes visitors in a visual experience through the house’s history, ending everyone’s tour in a memorable note. While some may be too shy to step into one of their stores, the exhibition is that one chance to give you a worthwhile peek inside the Louis Vuitton world. Here, one can absorb just how luxury will never go out of fashion with constant innovation.
Louis Vuitton: Time Capsule runs from Tuesday, 23rd of October to Sunday, 11th of November 2018 from 10am to 10pm in Senayan City Mall.
