Decoding “SERIES 1” Through Six Themes

In February of this year, Nicolas Ghesquière was appointed Artistic Director of Womenswear, succeeding Marc Jacobs. Ghesquière leads a reborn Louis Vuitton, entrusting his new vision to his creations while cherishing the Maison’s history. This exhibition offers a full immersion into his creative world.

This exhibition, held in only two cities worldwide—Shanghai and Tokyo—has chosen the two-story Louis Vuitton Shinjuku store as its venue. The interior, transformed into something akin to a museum, features installations divided into six rooms.

Four rooms are located on the first floor of the store. “Louis Vuitton” and “The Letter,” near the entrance, are dimly lit spaces featuring a neon light installation with the “LV” initials within a circle, and the voice of actress Charlotte Gainsbourg, a friend and muse to Nicolas, reading a letter plays from speakers within the room. This letter was written by Nicolas with his thoughts for the 1,200 attendees at the presentation of his first womenswear collection in Paris.







In the room called “Magic Trunk,” Louis Vuitton’s timeless symbol, the trunk, is displayed. Inside the trunk, various images appear, representing the Maison’s new secrets and creative mysteries. Furthermore, a video plays against the backdrop of the trunk, showcasing portraits of iconic French women, numerous Maison archives, and the evolution of bag craftsmanship, among other themes.

The fourth room is “Infinite Show.” Inspired by the 48 looks presented in the Louis Vuitton 2014-15 Autumn/Winter collection, 24 screens project the fashion show, including models walking and close-ups of the items. The music used in the actual show also plays, stimulating both sight and hearing, allowing visitors to experience the immersive atmosphere of being at the show in Paris.

Ascending the stairs, illuminated in rouge, leads to the second floor, where the atmosphere shifts dramatically from the first floor, arriving in a pure white room. “Accessories Gallery” focuses on the accessories from the 2014-15 Autumn/Winter collection. The display features accessories such as bags, belts, and necklaces, coordinated with 3D-printed sculptures by model Marte Mei van Haaster. Vintage trunks that inspired the bags are also on display.






The final room is the “Poster Room.” A patchwork of shots from the 2014-15 Autumn/Winter advertising campaign, photographed by three renowned photographers—Annie Leibovitz, Juergen Teller, and Bruce Weber—forms the wallpaper on three walls, creating a space where one can fully immerse in the world of “SERIES 1.” Additionally, the “SERIES 1” posters displayed in the room are available for visitors to take. The retail space is located on the left side of the second floor, showcasing a full lineup of items from the 2014-15 Autumn/Winter collection. In this sophisticated space, one can examine the collection up close and verify Nicolas’s creativity firsthand.







Nicolas Ghesquière also visited Japan for this exhibition. A reception party for the exhibition was held on Friday, September 5, attended by celebrities from around the world, including Hidetoshi Nakata, Tadanobu Asano, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Kyoko Koizumi, and Jessica Michibata.

SERIES 1 - THAT WAS THEN, THIS IS NOW
Venue | Louis Vuitton Shinjuku
3-4-8 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Dates | Monday, September 8 – Sunday, September 28
Hours | 11:00 – 20:00
*Closed at 17:00 on Friday, September 12, 18:00 on Friday, September 19, and 17:00 on Friday, September 26, due to event preparations.

Louis Vuitton Customer Service
0120-00-1854
www.louisvuitton.com