The luxury French fashion house has tapped top designers to create bold, collectible design pieces

The Objets Nomades collection by Louis Vuitton, launched in 2012, features a range of stylish travel-inspired objects created by some of the world's greatest design stars, including Hong Kong's very own Andre Fu. A colourful and eclectic mix of limited editions and experimental prototypes, the meticulously crafted collection pays homage to the French luxury goods house’s long tradition of beautifully made travel objects, while clearly focusing on the present and future.

The setting for the collection has been conceptualised by Fu himself who—along with unveiling his debut Objet Nomade—will bring his signature minimalist aesthetic to create a stunning scenography for the entire collection.  

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton

Defying any preconceived notions of what truly chic travel looks and feels like, the pieces embody the defiantly contemporary visions of innovative masters as well as up-and-coming talents from around the world: Atelier Oï, Maarten Baas, Barber and Osgerby, the Campana Brothers, Damien Langlois-Meurinne, Nendo, Gwenaël Nicolas, Raw Edges, Patricia Urquiola, Marcel Wanders, and, most recently, India Mahdavi and Tokujin Yoshioka.

As visitors will discover when the collection comes to Hong Kong from March 24 until April 2, all of the objects they’ve created blur the boundaries between the art and design world.

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton

Campana Brothers

For those on the hunt for a little fun during a week of seriously arty parties at Hong Kong’s art week, check out the splendidly individualistic Brazilian brothers Humberto and Fernando Campana’s “Bomboca Sofa”. Named after sweets served at weddings and children’s parties in Brazil and meaning “very good”, the cloud-inspired sofa is a modular piece featuring eight removable cushions arranged in a rigid, leather-covered shell.

The brothers also contribute two other outstanding pieces to the Objets Nomades collection, including the egg-shaped “Cocoon”, a delicately perforated pod of vacuum-moulded fibreglass covered with calfskin on the exterior and quilted leather on the interior, as well as “Maracatu”, a unique, multi-coloured, foldaway, portable travel cabinet. 

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton

Raw Edges

Raw Edges’ “Concertina” chair is based on its founders’—Yael Mer and Shay Alkalay—long-time interest in collapsible objects. The chair’s remarkable design takes the extremely complex concertina structures—the flexible part of the accordion—and simplifies them, creating a chair that is both easy to fold away and comfortable to sit on.

Once they cracked the design principle, the Israeli design duo adapted it for a coffee table and a lampshade. The "Concertina" lampshade, with its delicate floating metal structure lined with leather, creates a dreamy play on shadows and light.    

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton

Marcel Wanders

The lounge chair, according to its designer Marcel Wanders, is “an unfolding and portable oasis for relaxation. The three individual modules fit into each other like a puzzle, yet when laid out create a generous chaise longue”.

The Dutch designer’s natural charm is also evident in the “Rocking Chair” and the “Diamond Screen”, both of which express a heritage of quality and excellence. Crafted with wood and leather, the limited-edition chair comfortably cradles its occupant as it reprises the brass bumper corner element and the malletage quilted pattern found in the Vuitton’s iconic travel trunks.

The screen is a semi-transparent partition that artfully references both the diamond shape of the House’s signature Monogram pattern and the canework once used in the brand’s highly covetable trunks.

Louis Vuitton Objets Nomades will run from March 24 until April 2, 2018, at 5/F, Pedder Building, 12 Pedder Street, Central, Hong Kong. Find out more and register for admission at hk.louisvuitton.com

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