Louis Vuitton Designs Carbon Fiber Luggage for the Revolutionary BMW i8 Plug-In Hybrid.

Buy a BMW i8 and you not only get a sleek, sexy, plug-in hybrid with gullwing doors, but also a trunk full of luxurious luggage. Louis Vuitton has teamed up with the automaker to create a tailor-made set of luggage for the new revolutionary vehicle.


above: The revolutionary BMW i8 plug-in hybrid features gullwing doors

The innovative collection of luggage comprises two travel bags, a business case and a garment bag. To ensure optimal use of space, the luggage items have been tailor-made to fit perfectly into the interior of the revolutionary BMW i8.



“BMW and Louis Vuitton share both a profound appreciation of tradition and a commitment to constant further development,” says Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design. “The use of CFRP in the revolutionary BMW i8 sports car is indicative of an intelligent lightweight construction philosophy. And Louis Vuitton has demonstrated a similar belief in innovation, aesthetics and lightweight design in creating an exclusive luggage collection tailored perfectly to the new BMW i8.”



The understated carbon-black of this luggage range matches the colours of the BMW i8. Its sophisticated look comes courtesy of the unmistakable checkered Damier pattern – a Louis Vuitton hallmark – and a laser-etched Louis Vuitton signature. Black and electric blue used in the microfibre lining take their cue from the trademark brand colours of the BMW i8 and bag handles are made from dyed natural leather, a sign of Louis Vuitton quality. All items in the collection come with leather name tags and the iconic Louis Vuitton padlock with the exception of the garment bag.




Patrick-Louis Vuitton, Head of Special Orders at Louis Vuitton and great grandson of the House’s founder, says, “This collaboration with BMW epitomises our shared values of creativity, technological innovation and style. Our craftsmen at Louis Vuitton have enjoyed the challenge of this very special project, using their ingenuity and attention to detail to create a truly made to measure set of luxury luggage. This is a pure expression of the art of travel.”




Inspired by the visionary design of the BMW i8, the bags and cases – like the sports car’s innovative passenger cell – are made entirely from carbon fibre. This particularly lightweight yet extremely sturdy high-tech material has been used by Louis Vuitton to create a special textile. It provides great robustness and strength, and as such is made for the rigours of travel – no matter how long and arduous the drive.



The exclusive luggage pieces created by Louis Vuitton fit snugly into the BMW i8. The Weekender GM i8, with both hand and shoulder carry straps, is custom-designed to go into the boot (trunk), while the Garment Bag i8is a perfect fit for the rear shelf of the BMW i8. The sturdy hardshell Business Case i8 which is also ideal for carrying laptops, matches the shape of the rear seats; while the small Weekender PM i8 is designed to rest on its surface.



The Louis Vuitton luggage series will be available upon request in a selection of Louis Vuitton stores worldwide (Munich, Milan, London, Paris, Moscow, Dubai, New York, Los Angeles) starting April 1st 2014.

About the BMW i8:





The BMW i8 is the most progressive sports car and is the BMW Group’s first plug-in hybrid vehicle and the second model from the BMW i brand. It is a 2+2-seater boasting visionary design and intelligent lightweight engineering. As a plug-in hybrid, the BMW i8 unites the advantages of innovative electric drive and the latest combustion-engine technology. The upshot is an extraordinary driving experience that delivers the dynamics of a sports car (0 – 100 km/h / 62 mph in 4.4 seconds) along with fuel economy and emissions figures of a small city car (2,1 l/100km / 49 g CO2/km). This means not just purely electric emission-free driving around town but also sporty performance on inter-urban routes. The athletic personality of this revolutionary sports car is patently manifest in its design: classical sports car proportions, spectacular gullwing doors, clean, minimalist lines and a low-slung silhouette all imbue it with its powerful, dynamic shape. The sporty character of the BMW i8 exterior makes a seamless transition into the interior’s future-focused design.

all information and images courtesy of the BMW press group

Tattoo Artist Scott Campbell Designs Bags & Inks Models For Louis Vuitton

Gucci has already introduced a Tattoo-inspired collection of handbags and Chanel introduced their temporary tattoos, so it's no surprise that luxury brand Louis Vuitton has jumped on the tattwagon.

The LVMH company has collaborated with artist and tattoo master Scott Campbell to design some men's bags for the Louis Vuitton 2011 Spring Summer Men's collection. In addition to the leather bags which feature tattoo-inspired images, Scott Campbell also decorated the runway models for the show with temporary tattoos in the form of LV logos and with the same dragon and flourishes he used as imagery on the bags.

The Bags:



detail:






detail:


The Louis Vuitton Tattoos
The tattoos that graced the model's necks, arms and legs are the same designs as Scott incorporated into the leather bags for Louis Vuitton:






Scott, who has received much online attention for his cut-up currency art, is personal friends with Marc Jacobs, the fashion designer and Creative Director for Louis Vuitton. Jacobs sports several of Scott's tatts (both Marc and Scott have his "Bros before Hos" tattoos), so it's no wonder he chose him to design a few pieces and ink the models for the show.


above: Marc Jacobs of Louis Vuitton and artist Scott Campbell backstage at the runway show

Louis Vuitton
images are courtesy of the artist, ilvoelv.com and, with runway photos by Monica Feudi and Gianni Pucci for Style.com.

Justice Bodan: Leather Goods That Are Great.

It's rare that I see something in person (as opposed to online) where I simply must stop and find more information about it. The Justice Bodan Steelshell Messenger Bag was one such item. I saw the bag upon the shoulder of a co-worker and was mesmerized by the craftsmanship, style and details. When he set the bag down, I sneakily inspected it to find the words Justice Bodan embossed in the leather. (I have since confessed to the owner, Joe Shands, that I was peeking into his bag. Yes, he forgave me).



This led me to the stunning work of Los Angeles sculptor/designer David Grieco, the man behind the Justice Bodan label and his belts, bags, small leather goods, and jewelry.


above: elipse and fleur-de-lys bronze sculptures by David Grieco

An artist who has been sculpting for over 15 years, he created the fictional name and character, Justice Bodan, as a front for his jewelry and leather goods.


Above: The Steelshell in black or brown leather with cast bronze buckle (also shown as a belt)

His belt buckles are amazing. Artful, textural, and organic. Handmade and hand cast in bronze, they are heavy and substantial, not to mention beautiful. Many are available in white bronze or sterling silver as well. Here are just a few from his large collection.








He has a small selection of handbags and wallets for women, too.




And makes sterling silver bracelets, rings, pendants, cuff links money clips and more with the same organic shapes that appear on his other pieces:




Small leather portfolios and photo albums are amongst his gift offerings:



THE JUSTICE BODAN COLLECTION (as taken from his site):



The Justice Bodan Collection was created by Los Angeles-based artist David Grieco. David has been a fine-art sculptor for over 15 years with bronze being his chosen medium. His mastery of the craft guarantees that each design will be artfully unique.


Above: the sculptor at work

The collection initially launched with a line of belts and has recently expanded to include bags, jewelry and gift items.



Justice Bodan is a fictional character who travels the world, journaling his experiences. He travels from country to country, continent to continent, searching for nothing. He is only seeking to have experiences that will enable him to feel more connected to everyone and everything. Each destination helps him relate a little more closely to himself and to the human experience.



above: david working with molten bronze in his studio

Each buckle in the Justice Bodan Collection has a name with a message that correlates to the moment and destination that inspired its creation…allowing each meaningful thought and experience to blossom into a beautiful three-dimensional object. To protect the integrity and authenticity of the collection, David uses the lost-wax process, pulling each piece from a mold and then pouring it into bronze. In addition, each buckle is an original that is numbered and embossed by David personally.

All of the leather is imported from a tannery in Italy and is of the highest quality. David individually inspects each hide to insure it compliments the accompanying metal. Every piece of jewelry in the collection is made of sterling silver.

Each design in the Justice Bodan Collection is wearable art. Wear them with pride, and live life with love.

Shop for the above items here.

JUSTICE BODAN
1130 South Flower Street, #401
Los Angeles, CA 90015

email: info@justicebodan.com

For wholesale inquiries:
NEXUS Showroom
39 West 56th Street Third Floor
New York, NY 10019
tel. 212.265.0856
fax. 212 265 0898
email: info@nexusshowroom.com