For Kim Jones, the men’s artistic director of Louis Vuitton, inspiration for the spring/summer 2018 collection came like a breeze. After flipping through Atlas of Remote Islands: Fifth Island I Have Not Visited and Never Will, he realized he had checked many of them off his travel list. A sense of Wanderlust flooded over him, as he reminisced on past trips, and dreamed of future excursions.
“I thought of specific islands—New Zealand, Easter Island, and especially Hawaii—but I was also inspired by the idea of an island, and of travel. Of moving easily from place to place, and experiencing these different pockets of civilization; these different identities simultaneously.”
Louis Vuitton SS18.
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
The isolation that an island brings creates a type of culture unlike any other, distinct in identity. Seen in this collection are Aloha-inspired shirts with prints and knits of foliage. Island sports provided inspiration for many of the silhouettes, and for the new graphic treatment of the brand’s logo, which we see becoming more of a sports team slogan than a classic typography of the house.
Contrasts are big this season between sportswear and suits. The identity of each look is well defined. Tight attire, such as scuba suit-like pants, are seen with sandals and a button-down. Cross-body bags are in—smaller and tucked snug under the arm—as are new twists on the brand’s iconic big duffle, backpacks, and square clutch satchels. New shoes like black-and-white platforms with studs and slip-on sandals are seen leading the way, before the eye wanders up to fluid shorts, vibrant shirts, and bucket hats.
Louis Vuitton SS18.
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
Special for the show in Paris last week, too, was the release of musician Drake’s new single “Signs,” inspired by the collection.
For the voyage and the journey, for the islander and city-slicker, Louis Vuitton offers a variety of bold looks—tossed together, separated, and downright perfect for the traveler in you.
Louis Vuitton SS18.
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
