Longchamp & its art collaborations

Founded in Paris in 1948, Longchamp has been known for decades all over the world for its smart leather and canvas bags and accessories. More recently, the French family-owned luxury company has also made a name for itself thanks to its continued collaborations with leading creative talents.

Under the general guidance of artistic director Sophie Delafontaine, Longchamp’s famous Le Pliage bag—a featherweight tote that folds upon itself to the size of a pocketbook—has become the perfect canvas for innovation. In 2004, the award-winning designer Thomas Heatherwick, who went on to create the London Olympic cauldron, used long ribbons of zipper to invent a bag that could change in size. That same year, the conceptual artist Tracey Emin conceived a limited edition, three-piece collection that alluded to her well-known quilts, which can be found in leading museums. To celebrate Le Pliage’s 20th anniversary last year, Sarah Morris, who explores the politics of architecture and cultural symbols in her paintings, transferred three original artworks onto Longchamp pieces.

Fashion designers are equally besotted with Longchamp. Since 2006, Jeremy Scott, who was recently appointed Creative Director of Moschino, has been putting a personal stamp on travel bags with playful imagery that has included globetrotting poodles, classic postcards, and a digital print depicting the designer as a contemporary samurai. In 2009, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of ANDAM, the organization that promotes French and International fashion talent, Longchamp orchestrated a special collaboration with Jeremy Scott and two other ANDAM winners: the German duo Bless, who designed a handbag that folds into a bracelet, and Charles Anastase, who embellished bags with his naïve illustrations. More recently, Mary Katrantzou has brought new energy to Longchamp with her vibrantly hued prints.

Longchamp’s artistic projects aren’t just limited to the products—the company has invited important artists to make their mark on some of its key stores. Carlos Cruz-Diez created a colorful work full of movement specifically for the Madison Avenue boutique in New York. In Regent Street, London, the collective Troika devised a sculpture that folds and unfolds, a reference to Le Pliage. Also in London, at the New Bond street locale, Maya Hayuk installed a monumental piece that can be appreciated from different angles as you ascend to the second floor. In Hong Kong, Chinese artists Liu Wei and Sui Jianguo were responsible for site-specific works. On the Champs Elysees flagship in Paris, Astrid Krogh took over a huge wall for an imposing piece that measures 70 square meters. And in Miami, Thomas Heatherwick challenged the conventions of furniture with chairs that resemble spinning tops, yet are perfectly functional and comfortable.

Together, these initiatives reinforce Longchamp’s ongoing commitment to the promotion of the arts and the creativity on a global scale.