Keith Haring's Graffitied Suitcase Inspires Louis Vuitton Resort 2027

Nicolas Ghesquière's Resort 2027 collection for Louis Vuitton was inspired by a 1984 Keith Haring-customized suitcase. The brown leather valise, much older than its decoration, was sold at Bonham's for about $35,000 in 2020 and is now part of Louis Vuitton's archive. Ghesquière obtained special permission from the Keith Haring Foundation to use it. The show was presented at the Frick, contrasting Haring's downtown graffiti roots with the Gilded Age opulence of Henry Clay Frick's mansion. The collection explores the uptown-downtown divide, referencing Haring's UFO drawing and including a soundtrack by Peaches. The suitcase's appearance highlights the scarcity principle and Louis Vuitton's long history of artist collaborations, starting with Marc Jacobs' 2001 Stephen Sprouse collaboration. Haring, who died of AIDS in 1990 at age 31, believed art should be accessible; the foundation's mission supports HIV/AIDS, youth services, and arts organizations.