High Life

HIGH LIFE #14 Nov 2017 139 L aunched in 2013, the Capucines is one of the iconic signatures of the Louis Vuitton maison that incorporates all elements of savoir-faire found in fine leather goods making, skills developed in Asnière since 1892. Its name pays homage to the earlydays of the brand, born in rue Neuve-des-Capucines in 1854. Creativity, innovation and skills are expressed through fine leathers, timeless design and the highest level of artisanal craftsmanship. Leather specialists examine each piece of leatherandthosewithwrinkles, uneven grain or marks will be rejected. The creation of the Capucines bag involves over 250 individual handcrafted operations and thousands of steps that showcase a level of sophistication and refinement to stand the test of time. Not long ago, renowned fashion photographer Patrick Demarchelier shot international actress Fan Bing Bing with the iconic Capucines bag in Kyoto, Japan, capturingher immaculate beauty and the awe-inspiring details of Louis Vuitton leather goods in a city with ancient charm. “To me, Louis Vuitton is like a close friend who always surprises me,” she says. A big fan of designer Nicolas Ghesquière’s work, Fan believes that his pieces exude feminine strength, which reflects his idea of women. To her, the existence of fashion is for a woman to explore her uniqueness and beauty, rather than to be viewed merely as a trend. “Women are supposed to have peculiar senses and preference,” she explains. “For years, they have been striving for empowerment. LouisVuitton advances this message through the representation of outstanding women like Jennifer Connelly, Alicia Vikander, Lea Seydoux andMichelleWilliams. I am honored to be a part of this tradition.”