Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1545488
30 T en years ago, Louis Vuitton brought in Marc Newson, the industrial designer w h o s e f u t u r i s t i c aluminum Lockheed Lounge chair had become one of the most important design objects of its generation. The objective was simple yet ambitious: Build the 21st-century equivalent of the Louis Vuitton trunk. The result is the Horizon Aluminum, the house's first aluminum suitcase and a feat of engineering. The material choice is not by chance. Aluminum runs through both Newson's body of work and Louis Vuitton's history: The house was crafting aluminum trunks for explorers in the late 19th century. What's new is what they've done with it. The shell is stamped and laser-cut, its curves kept intact throughout the process. The Monogram is pressed directly into the metal, reinforcing the structure from within. Rivets are gone, and hinges have become invisible, folded into the interior like the movement of a watch. The frame is a single-piece, full-depth 3D mold, making this one of the first rivet-free aluminum suitcases ever made. Inside, a thermoformed lining delivers a flat, uncompromised compartment, with extra-wide telescopic handle, enlarged shock-absorbing wheels, and VVN or black leather at the corners and handles. TSA-certified locks sit flush with the shell. The leather luggage tag doubles as a bag hook. The vanity case mirrors every engineering decision, its interior adapted by a removable central divider. Both pieces are built for decades and fully repairable in-store. The inevitable d e n t s , when they come, are part of the journey. louis vuitton. com. Steven Hempel The Suitcase, Reinvented L ouis Vuitton expands its Color Blossom universe with a watch, translating the house's iconic Monogram Flower into a refined new timepiece. Available in steel and yellow and pink gold, the 26mm timepiece pairs mother-of-pearl and amazonite dials with tonal straps. The sculpted flower-shaped case, curved sapphire crystal, and gemstone dial echo the rounded forms of the Color Blossom collection, while subtle details reference Louis Vuitton's trunk-making heritage. Produced by La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton, t h e w a t c h b r i n g s together fine jewelry a n d w a t c h m a k i n g in a piece that feels elegant, modern, and unmistakably Vuitton. Color Blossom watch $4,550 - $18,900, at Louis Vuitton, louisvuitton. com. Steven Hempel