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For his first collection as the women’s artistic director for Louis Vuitton, Nicholas Ghesquière distributed a typewritten note to express his “immense joy” over the pivotal moment in his career. Almost a decade later, he continues to bring us this feeling, growing the connection the French house has to the rest of the world with accessories to covet and cherish. Celebrating his tenure with the brand, the designer now reimagines one of his original designs with the GO-14 bag, an emblem of all that we’ve come to adore about Louis Vuitton.
With a unique chapter in the house’s storied history of premium leather goods, the GO-14 harkens back to where it all truly began: travel. Inspired by a trunk-maker’s dedication to function and an artist’s pull to beauty, this piece sits at the intersection of practicality and ingenuity. Where we first set our sights on it all those years ago—hence its name that references Ghesquier October 2014, the bag now takes a new characteristic in malletage. This refined crossed pattern works hard to protect, padding the insides of trunks to keep contents safe from the twists and turns of travel.
Ghesquière found great inspiration in this core innovation of the house and rebirthed this feature in his first collection by highlighting it in an external form to draw attention to its invisible luxury. “There are some universal codes that exist solely
in Louis Vuitton,” he said. “It was about reappropriating and transposing them into a new setting.”
As is clear upon marvelling at its enticing exterior, the GO-14 is a feat of skill and a testament to heritage. Upon holding its supple body, the seamless feel may fool you, but as we know of Louis Vuitton, this sensual ease comes down to an extensive creative process. Requiring more than twenty different steps, including the utmost meticulousness on the patina to ensure a satin or toasted finish, the GO-14 is a work of pure dedication to the craft. A highly precise technique for depositing the 17-metre-long trim is also needed for the rounded malletage of each bag, and harmonising these precise details to create a cushioned finish with more integrity than traditional quilting is key.
Of course, with its padded lambskin make and dynamic form, the GO-14 offers a sensual luxury that can be endlessly styled. From the starkest black and white to the diluted, nuanced, toasted shades that reveal the subtleties of its texture, there is an iteration that’ll strike a chord with your mood. Wear it across your body as a buoyant extension of your style, over the shoulder with its jewel chain reminiscent of a fluid gold necklace, in your hands with its buttery top handles, or under the crook of your elbow to take advantage of its effortless glamour. And though it boasts the power to accompany with modesty or reign with great confidence, the GO-14 is one to celebrate for imparting the very immense joy that inspired its design—all accented by a gleaming golden LV Twist lock to seal the deal.
Discover more of the Louis Vuitton GO-14 bag here.
