So, it finally happened. After a decade of rumors, "gatekept" vintage listings, and enough TikTok nostalgia to power a small city, the Louis Vuitton Takashi Murakami 2025 re-edition is real. It isn't just a handful of bags either. It's a massive, three-chapter rollout that basically feels like the luxury world’s version of a victory lap.
Honestly, if you were around in 2003, you remember the chokehold the Multicolore line had on pop culture. It was everywhere. Paris Hilton, Rihanna, the early "It Girl" era—it was defined by those 33 vibrant colors popping off a white or black canvas. But then, in 2015, LV pulled the plug. They wanted "quiet luxury" before it was a buzzword. For ten years, if you wanted Murakami, you had to hunt through Japanese resale sites or pay double the retail price for a "pre-loved" Speedy that had definitely seen better days.
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Now? The flowers are back. The panda is back. And the cherries? Yeah, they’re coming too.
The 2025 Rollout: What’s Actually Dropping
Louis Vuitton didn't just dump the whole collection at once. That would be too easy. Instead, they’ve structured this as a three-part saga, and if you haven't been tracking the dates, you've probably already missed the first boat.
Chapter 1: The New Year’s Chaos
The first drop hit on January 2, 2025. This was the "big one." We saw the return of the Monogram Multicolore in both Blanc (white) and Noir (black). It wasn't just a carbon copy of the old stuff, though. They used "Superflat" tech for the printing, which makes the colors look deeper, almost like they’re glowing. The standout? Probably the Malle Wardrobe that contains 33 individual Micro Speedys, each with a different colored handle. It’s basically the final boss of handbag collecting.
Chapter 2: The Zendaya Effect
In March 2025, things got serious with the Cherry Blossom collection. LV leaned hard into the Japan connection here, timing the launch with the actual Sakura season. They also brought in Zendaya to front the campaign, which, let’s be real, makes anything look like a must-have. We saw the "Capucines Mini" and the "OnTheGo" tote get the floral treatment. If you're looking for the most "Instagrammable" piece of the year, this was it.
Chapter 3: The Summer Finale
The final chapter is slated for late May and June 2025. This one focuses on the Cerises (Cherry) and Superflat Floral motifs. It’s a bit more playful, a bit more "summer in St. Tropez."
Why Everyone Is Frustrated (The "Pre-Order" Mess)
Here is the thing nobody tells you in the glossy magazine spreads: buying this stuff is a nightmare.
The internet is currently full of people—mostly on Reddit and YouTube—who are absolutely livid. Why? Because Louis Vuitton basically bypassed the "casual" shopper. Most of the inventory for the January drop was spoken for via "Client Advisors" (SAs) weeks before it even hit the website.
If you tried to buy a Multicolore Speedy 20 on the site at 9:00 AM, it was likely already "Call for Availability." This has created a weird situation where the only people getting the bags are long-term VIPs or "StockX flippers" who are already listing them for 40% markups. It’s a bit of a slap in the face to the people who have been dreaming of these bags since they were in middle school.
The Artycapucines Twist
Just when we thought the anniversary celebration was tapering off, LV threw a curveball. In October 2025, they announced the Artycapucines VII x Takashi Murakami.
This is different from the main re-edition. These are high-art pieces. We’re talking 11 "highly limited" versions of the Capucines bag. They even did an installation at the Grand Palais for Art Basel Paris featuring a 25-foot tentacled creature covered in eyes.
One of the bags, the Capucines Mini Mushroom, uses a motif from Murakami’s 2003 "Army of Mushrooms" work. These aren't just bags; they are sculptures you happen to be able to put your keys in. If you have to ask the price, you definitely can't afford these. They are aiming for the "A-list street style" crowd—the Kendalls and Rihannas of the world.
Is the Quality Still There?
This is a valid question. The original 2003 pieces were tanks. The canvas was thick, and the Vachetta leather aged into a beautiful honey patina.
Early reviews of the Louis Vuitton Takashi Murakami 2025 pieces are a bit mixed. The digital printing is objectively better—the lines are sharper and the 33 colors don't bleed. However, some collectors argue the "supple" canvas used in modern LV isn't as hearty as the old-school coated canvas.
What you need to check before buying:
- The Alignment: LV is usually perfect, but with these complex prints, check the "LV" placement relative to the seams.
- The Date Code/Microchip: 2025 pieces won't have the old leather date stamps; they're all microchipped now.
- The Vachetta: It starts very pale. If you buy a "new" 2025 bag and the leather is already dark, something is wrong.
How to Actually Get One Without Paying 2x Retail
If you didn't get a pre-order, don't panic. But also, don't expect it to be easy.
First, stop refreshing the website. It's a ghost town. Your best bet is to actually walk into a physical boutique, preferably one in a slightly less "hyped" city. Establish a relationship. Talk to an advisor about the upcoming June drop. They usually have a few pieces held back for "walk-in" clients to keep the store from looking empty.
Second, watch the Japanese resale market. Paradoxically, when a new collection drops, the price of "vintage" 2003-2015 pieces sometimes dips slightly because the "I need it now" crowd moves to the 2025 version. You can often find a "near-mint" original for less than the price of the new re-edition, and many purists still prefer the original 2003 craftsmanship anyway.
What This Means for the Future
This 2025 comeback proves that "Logomania" isn't dead; it just took a nap.
Louis Vuitton is clearly pivoting back to their "Greatest Hits." We’ve seen the denim comeback, the Stephen Sprouse nods, and now the Murakami revival. It’s smart business. They are capturing the Gen Z "Y2K" trend while simultaneously draining the wallets of Millennials who now have the disposable income they didn't have twenty years ago.
Your Move:
If you’re a collector, the Multicolore Speedy 20 is the "smart" buy—it's the most iconic silhouette of the partnership. If you’re an art fan, hold out for the Artycapucines or the Superflat Panda accessories.
Just remember: these aren't "investment pieces" in the way a Birkin is. They are hype pieces. Buy them because you love the 33 colors and the smiling flowers, not because you think you'll retire on the resale value. Fashion is a cycle, and while Murakami is "in" for 2025, the pendulum always swings back to "quiet" eventually.
To stay ahead of the next release, make sure your LV app notifications are on for the June "Cherry" drop. That’s the last chance to get these at retail price before the partnership likely goes back into the vault for another decade.