It’s certainly not the bag I’d pictured to set new records, but the bag had its bibbity-bobbity-boo moment, and with the touch of an artist on its side, who are we to argue? The LV x YK Pumpkin Bag resulted from LV joining hands with acclaimed Japanese contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama for a second collaboration set in January 2023. The Kusama touch not only made it a fan favorite but also turned it into the most expensive Louis Vuitton bag ever sold.
This distinctive yellow pumpkin bag, crafted in sumptuous grained cowhide boasts an all-over print of the House’s iconic Monogram pattern, and is evidently shaped like a pumpkin, its cutest and most defining feature. It includes silver hardware and measures 20 x 19.7 x 20 cm. The pumpkin bag was estimated to fetch between $10,000-$15,000 at a Christie’s auction but went under the hammer for four times the estimate for a cool $44,100. The price also owes much to the involvement of a great artist.
LV’s first tie-up with Kusama in 2012 grabbed eyeballs by the millions, and the second set was no different. In fact, for the second collaboration, an enthusiastic Louis Vuitton took over Tokyo with a marketing masterplan, using a mix of augmented reality experiences and physical installations featuring the 93-year-old Kusama and her works all over town. With the LV x YK Pumpkin Bag setting records, it looks like all that work has paid off, and the handbag is certainly not just an accessory; it is art with purpose!
Which is the most expensive handbag ever sold?
While Louis Vuitton celebrates the sale of its pumpkin-shaped accessory, the highest records for the most expensive handbag ever sold are held by Hermès Birkin bags. More than half a century later, these luxurious accessories continue to reign supreme as the ultimate fashionable status symbol. Rare variants of the leather tote, like the Ombré Birkin crafted from ultra-rare Varanus salvator lizard skin, retail between $40,000 and $80,000 and was auctioned at Sotheby’s for a staggering $137,500.
The Faubourg Neige Birkin, one of the most coveted Birkin models, was auctioned for an incredible $400,000 in 2022. Even more expensive was the Himalaya Birkin 30, featuring diamond-encrusted white gold hardware, which fetched $450,000 in 2022, according to WWD. Nita the wife of Asia’s richest billionaire, Mukesh Ambani is known to own these two ultra-expensive variants. These figures suggest that Louis Vuitton has a long way to go before its pieces can command prices in the Hermès range.
