BIG IN JAPAN

Louis Vuitton’s ties to Japan can be traced back to the turn of the 20th century. Japonisme was strong, particularly with the French, in the late 19th century following the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Inspiration for the famous monogram designed by Georges Vuitton is largely attributed to Japanese motifs such as the or family crest. Louis Vuitton’s first Japanese customers were political leaders Taisuke Itagaki and Goto Shojiro in 1883; under Marc Jacobs, the house created wildly successful collaborations with Japanese contemporary artists, including Takashi Murakami and Yayoi Kusama (below).