Nicolas Ghesquière and Pharrell Williams, respectively the Creative Directors of the women’s and men’s lines at Louis Vuitton, have taken on a special project: reinterpreting an iconic object from the French maison. This is the return of the Malle Lit, a real bed trunk, which this time has been reimagined with a contemporary twist. Let’s explore the history, design, and distinct visions behind this joint venture from the two designers.

The History of the Louis Vuitton Bed Trunk

If we go back to 1868, when George Vuitton designed a trunk for “sophisticated world travelers,” we can imagine the bed trunk just as the founder’s son envisioned it. In the 19th century, it was an item made for explorers, travelers, and anyone in need of a portable bed.

The Contemporary Bed Trunk by Ghesquière and Williams

The Malle Lit’s modern redesign retains some original elements (like the foldable aluminum and beech wood structure, along with the internal mattress and mattress cover) while rethinking the aesthetics—and, of course, elevating the style to today’s standards as interpreted by Ghesquière and Williams. It appears there will even be a nightstand included in the future Malle Lit. Pharrell Williams focused on the striped motif from the famous 1872 canvas, while the mattress and pillow are made of jacquard fabric and feature his distinctive embroidery, LV Lovers.

As for Ghesquière’s take on the bed trunk, the outer shell references the 2023 Cruise collection, while the mattress showcases the same dark floral pattern as the Spring/Summer 2018 collection. There are also engraved metal plaques and angular elements that give a more futuristic feel compared to Pharrell’s design, which stays more faithful to the original.

On the Louis Vuitton website, both Malle Lits are available for order at exorbitant prices: Pharrell Williams’ version here and Nicolas Ghesquière’s version here. For those looking to save a bit, there’s also a base version for just €160k, featuring the Monogram trunk. According to the site, the Malle Lit is described as an “ideal collectible item to use as a supplementary bed or daybed in the living room.” It’s certainly a curious object, likely to intrigue fans of the French maison and beyond. In addition to its design, the suggested use of the product has also evolved significantly. In the past, the Malle Lit was used by explorers like Pietro Savorgnan di Brazzà, an Italian who spent much of his life exploring Africa, particularly the Congo. We can’t help but wonder what he would think of Louis Vuitton’s new twist on the Malle Lit.