The Louis Vuitton Cruise 2027 collection sailed down the runway at the Frick Collection in New York on Wednesday, making major nods to Pop Art legend Keith Haring and the gritty spunk of New York City’s 1980s downtown art scene.
French designer Nicolas Ghesquière was inspired by a leather Louis Vuitton suitcase that Haring embellished in 1984. The house acquired the suitcase in 2020, and it became a jumping-off point for the collection.
Haring’s iconic imagery appeared throughout the collection: His famed barking dogs, radiant babies, and graphic linework were emblazoned on many pieces. Several garments and accessories featured hand-painted details, honoring the spontaneity of Haring’s street art.
Haring, who died in 1990 at age 31, became an art world sensation in the 1980s through his artistic interventions in public spaces. His subway drawings, murals, and activist projects have remained recurring reference points in fashion and popular culture. Wednesday’s show, which was attended by celebrities including actors Anne Hathaway, Emma Stone, and Zendaya, underscored Haring’s enduring relevance.
The show follows the recent announcement of a three-year cultural partnership between the Frick and Louis Vuitton, further establishing the French fashion house’s ongoing dialogue with the art world. Under former creative director Marc Jacobs, the house collaborated with artists including Stephen Sprouse, Takashi Murakami, and Richard Prince in projects that helped shape luxury fashion’s relationship to the contemporary art world in the early 2000s.
