Louis Vuitton’s LV Trainer Gets Artist Approved Makeover

A true polymath, visionary designer Virgil Abloh was no stranger to cultural crossovers. As the previous artistic director of Louis Vuitton menswear, the iconoclast was inspired by streetwear, sportswear, art and couture. None of his designs encapsulates this better than the LV Trainer which made its runway debut for S/S 19. Crafted from premium Italian leather, the retro-inspired trainers took elements from Abloh’s favourite basketball shoes. Keeping his legacy alive, Louis Vuitton has collaborated with three artists to reimagine the signature kicks.

Dubbed The White Canvas Collection: LV Trainer in Residence, the limited-edition capsule collection was inspired by an idea Abloh had before his passing in 2021. The trainers, produced in partnership with Sky Gellatly, are crafted with stark white leather making them the perfect canvas for a bold reinvention. Previously collaborating with some of the biggest names in contemporary art including Yayoi Kusama and Richard Prince, the maison is continuing its creative dialogue with the art world by partnering with three pioneers of New York’s underground art scene.

Graffiti artists Lady Pink, Lee Quiñones and Rammellzee unveiled their very own iterations of the LV Trainer at a special pop-up exhibition in Milan on 24 February. Expanding on the maison’s continued dialogue with the art world, the original hand-painted designs were unveiled alongside multimedia installations. The limited edition trainers were sold exclusiviley in this space until 16 March making them some of the rarest Louis Vuitton's rarest trainer releases. As only the first iteration of LV Trainer in Residence, we're eagerly anticipating which artists will be chosen to reimagine the iconic design next.