Blending playful design with cultural commentary, LV’s new accessory becomes the most talked-about piece of the season
Paris, July 2025: Louis Vuitton, no stranger to reimagining everyday objects as high fashion, has once again captured global attention with a handbag modeled after an Indian auto rickshaw, introduced as part of its Men’s Spring/Summer 2026 collection.
While the standout piece did not debut on the official runway, it was unveiled at a re-see event—a post-show showcase where editors and buyers get up-close with the collection. The handbag is crafted from Louis Vuitton’s classic monogram leather, featuring fine details like miniature wheels, handlebars, and the unmistakable three-wheeler silhouette that millions across South Asia recognize.
India is clearly having a major haute couture moment, and fashion houses are taking bold — and occasionally bizarre — steps to tap into cultural icons. Soon after Prada’s ‘Kolhapuri’ sandals garnered attention, Louis Vuitton dropped an auto-rickshaw bag!
This latest and wildest entrant in the trend is a bold mashup: a rickshaw — long seen as a utilitarian, working-class mode of transport — turned into a reportedly ₹35-lakh luxury accessory, decked out in LV’s signature monogram and holographic finish.
Fashion commentator Diet Paratha was among the first to spotlight the bag on social media, posting a close-up image on Instagram with a caption that playfully questioned its cultural implications. The post sparked a digital conversation ranging from admiration to satire, especially among NRIs (Non-Resident Indians) who found both nostalgia and irony in seeing a humble symbol of Indian urban life reimagined as a luxury accessory.
“It’s not just a bag. It’s a cultural crossover moment,” noted one fashion editor on X (formerly Twitter). “And the reactions prove it—fashion is where utility, identity, and provocation meet.”
Online, reactions have been mixed but passionate. Some netizens praised the design as a celebration of Indian iconography, while others questioned whether it toes the line of appropriation or parody. Regardless, the accessory has achieved what fashion often aims for: to provoke thought and spark conversation.
Though pricing details have yet to be officially released, the estimated tag of around ₹35 lakh places the bag firmly in the collectible luxury category. It continues a trend at Louis Vuitton—previous collections have included bags shaped like paint cans, airplanes, and coffee cups—but the auto rickshaw’s cultural symbolism makes this one particularly distinctive.
With the fashion world increasingly embracing global motifs, Louis Vuitton’s rickshaw handbag is both a statement and a story, merging heritage and high design in a way that’s hard to ignore.
As the conversation continues, one thing is certain: this little three-wheeler has taken fashion on a ride no one saw coming.
