​©Louis Vuitton Malletier - Benjamin Decoin

Q&A

Why did you agree to create an Objet Nomade for Louis Vuitton?
To me, Louis Vuitton has always represented a certain French savoir-faire, which signifies a culture of quality. The opportunity to work on a collection of pieces that reinterpret the brand’s travel objects from the past was truly inspiring.

What does Louis Vuitton mean to you?
My understanding of, as well as my admiration for, Louis Vuitton is rooted in its rich history of producing custom travel trunks. The many made-to-measure trunks for various world travellers have been a great inspiration and departure point for these objects. The House has always represented the finest in luxury goods and craftsmanship.

How did you work with the Louis Vuitton workshops’ savoir-faire?
It was a very interesting experience to work with a company that pays so much attention to the many details of such complex objects and which combines so many artisanal techniques to create unique products and experiences. Visiting the workshops and seeing the craftsmen create the various elements of these objects with such great precision and passion was really inspiring; in an ever-more industrialized society it is rare to find companies that still honour age-old techniques of craftsmanship. ​

​“Nomadism is for me a condition of contemporaneity and lightness.”
​ Patricia Urquiola

Biography

Spanish-born Patricia Urquiola has been living and working in Milan, Italy, since the mid-1980s. She graduated from the city’s Politecnico in 1989 and went on to work for a number of renowned architects and design companies, including Alessi, Cappellini and Kartell. In 2001 she founded her own design agency and two years later was awarded the Best System prize for her Fjord collection. Her body of work, which shows a pronounced taste for colours and a wide variety of materials, now includes an armchair (Smock), a chaise longue (Antibody) and a lamp (Chasen).