Announced in a Feb. 27 press release from BMW, Louis Vuitton and BMW have teamed up to create a new line of luggage to accompany the lucky owners of the innovative BMW i8. To say that Louis Vuitton is well known for their incredibly detailed bags and luggage is an understatement, and when their designs are crossed with an automobile like the i8, the outcome is guaranteed to be immaculate.
The luggage is crafted to fit in particular spaces of the i8. Whether the back seat or the trunk, they’ve made each bag to fit perfectly so you can save space and time. The luggage comes in a carbon black color matching the tones of the hybrid sports car, providing a seamlessly cohesive look when traveling.
In order to give the BMW i8 carbon look, Louis Vuitton has equipped the bags with their chequered Damier pattern, and the lining of the bags is accented with black and electric blue microfiber stitching. The classic Louis Vuitton signature is laser-etched into each piece, as well as the leather name tags and locks.
“This collaboration with BMWi epitomises our shared values of creativity, technological innovation and style. Our craftsmen at Louis Vuitton have enjoyed the challenge of this very special project, using their ingenuity and attention to detail to create a truly made to measure set of luxury luggage. This is a pure expression of the art of travel,” said Patrick-Louis-Vuitton, Head of Special Orders at Louis Vuitton, in the Feb. 27 press release.
Every bag is crafted from a special textile Louis Vuitton created from carbon fiber, giving the collection a particularly strong yet lightweight design, much like the i8. The collection offers a variety of sizes for a variety of needs, including the Weekender GM i8, the Garment Bag i8, the Business Case i8 and the Weekender PM i8.
The Louis Vuitton luggage series will be available starting April 1st in a selection of stores worldwide.
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Munich. Exceptional luggage for an exceptional automobile. Louis Vuitton, the pioneer of the art of travel, has created a tailor-made set of luggage for the most progressive sports car – the BMW i8 plug-in hybrid.
The innovative collection of luggage comprises two travel bags, a business case and a garment bag. To ensure optimal use of space, the luggage items have been tailor-made to fit perfectly into the interior of the revolutionary BMW i8.
“BMW and Louis Vuitton share both a profound appreciation of tradition and a commitment to constant further development,” says Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design. “The use of CFRP in the revolutionary BMW i8 sports car is indicative of an intelligent lightweight construction philosophy. And Louis Vuitton has demonstrated a similar belief in innovation, aesthetics and lightweight design in creating an exclusive luggage collection tailored perfectly to the new BMW i8.”
Distinguished and elegant – the design.
The understated carbon-black of this luggage range matches the colours of the
BMW i8. Its sophisticated look comes courtesy of the unmistakable chequered Damier pattern – a Louis Vuitton hallmark – and a laser-etched Louis Vuitton signature. Black and electric blue used in the microfibre lining take their cue from the trademark brand colours of the BMW i8 and bag handles are made from dyed natural leather, a sign of Louis Vuitton quality. All items in the collection come with leather name tags and the iconic Louis Vuitton padlock with the exception of the garment bag.
Patrick-Louis-Vuitton, Head of Special Orders at Louis Vuitton and great grandson of the House’s founder, says, “This collaboration with BMW i epitomises our shared values of creativity, technological innovation and style. Our craftsmen at Louis Vuitton have enjoyed the challenge of this very special project, using their ingenuity and attention to detail to create a truly made to measure set of luxury luggage. This is a pure expression of the art of travel.”
A strong future – the material.
Inspired by the visionary design of the BMW i8, the bags and cases – like the sports car’s innovative passenger cell – are made entirely from carbon fibre. This particularly lightweight yet extremely sturdy high-tech material has been used by Louis Vuitton to create a special textile. It provides great robustness and strength, and as such is made for the rigours of travel – no matter how long and arduous the drive.
Tailored to the BMW i8 – the luggage.
The exclusive luggage pieces created by Louis Vuitton fit snugly into the BMW i8. The Weekender GM i8, with both hand and shoulder carry straps, is custom-designed to go into the boot, while theGarment Bag i8is a perfect fit for the rear shelf of the
BMW i8. The sturdy hardshell Business Case i8 which is also ideal for carrying laptops, matches the shape of the rear seats; while the small Weekender PM i8 is designed to rest on its surface.
The Louis Vuitton luggage series will be available upon request in a selection of Louis Vuitton stores worldwide (Munich, Milan, London, Paris, Moscow, Dubai, New York, Los Angeles) starting April 1st 2014.
Revolution in sports cars – the BMW i8.
The BMW i8 is the most progressive sports car and is the BMW Group’s first plug-in hybrid vehicle and the second model from the BMW i brand. It is a 2+2-seater boasting visionary design and intelligent lightweight engineering. As a plug-in hybrid, the BMW i8 unites the advantages of innovative electric drive and the latest combustion-engine technology. The upshot is an extraordinary driving experience that delivers the dynamics of a sports car (0 – 100 km/h / 62 mph in 4.4 seconds) along with fuel economy and emissions figures of a small city car (2.1 l /100km / 49 g CO2/km). This means not just purely electric emission-free driving around town but also sporty performance on inter-urban routes. The athletic personality of this revolutionary sports car is patently manifest in its design: classical sports car proportions, spectacular scissor doors, clean, minimalist lines and a low-slung silhouette all imbue it with its powerful, dynamic shape. The sporty character of the BMW i8 exterior makes a seamless transition into the interior’s future-focused design.
(Source: BMW)
