Unboxing Louis Vuitton Chess Messenger in Damier Pop by Pharrell Williams

Pharrell Williams’ original design for Louis Vuitton and his debut Spring Summer 2024 collection is reminiscent of a hat box. This one is from the men’s collection. It is cute, cheerful, and fun. It is a smaller bag. Made with Louis Vuitton's original trunk pattern called Damier, which predates their logo canvas. The traditional Damier has been modernised in bright colours and called Damier Pop. They were available in yellow, green, red, blue, and orange. At the time of purchase, the orange was an online exclusive.
Arrived in time for the New Year of the Wood Dragon 2024. Also known as the Year of The Blue Dragon.
This is a small bag. For reference, my glove size is 6. So my hands are small. You can see that the opening is rather tight even for a smaller hand.
It requires significant bending of one side of the opening of the bag to pry it open. This means signs of wear will form on the two points of stress on the leather tubing which lines the perimeter of the bag.
The interesting angle of what would have otherwise been an unremarkable bag means less practical ways it can be worn.
For example, gone is the ability to place the bag on a flat surface to steady it for stability while we rummage through the cute, bright, unique looking bag.
Or the fact that the handle and the D rings aren’t sitting right at the centre but to each side of the bag. Resulting in a certain tilt of the bag when carried by the handle or across the body messenger style.
This may mean having to have the zipper facing our body when carried by the handle and facing outward when carried messenger style. Which may be of no consequence to some of us, including to me.
The handle is also too short to be carried on the crook of the arm, and can only be carried by the hand. Again, this may be a bother for some, or a minor inconvenience in the name of fashion for others.
I am the latter.
(With my current life style, carrying any bag in the crook of my arm is a luxury in itself anyway).
Who pays this much for a plastic coated canvas bag, for something as basic as a carrier of things, if all we want is a bag that functions well?
The only two Louis Vuitton "bags" I will always keep because I just love them, are both utterly useless: Virgil Abloh's carrot pouch, and the Petite Malle.
The phrase "art for art's sake" comes to mind.
(For me personally, the idea of "luxury", is closely tied to this idea of art. More on that in a different video).
Is Louis Vuitton worth the money?
The bag?
No.
Why did I buy it?
Because.
I.
Want.
It.
Will I regret this like almost every (six) Louis Vuitton purchases I made in the past 20 years?
Stay tuned for my review of it after some use. Included in this will be what I carry carry in this bag comfortably. (Comfort being the operative word).
All I can say is this: No one ever approached me to ask what bag I am carrying when I carried an unidentifiable Louis Vuitton bag. (I know to some of you that’s an oxymoron).
Unlike the times when I carried some of the other unidentifiable bags, be it branded bags, vintage bags, or bags handmade by independent craftspeople, and niche designers.
Quality should speak for itself in material, craftsmanship, and well thought out designs.
The rest is just noise.
Beautiful, frivolous, expensive noise.
Apparently the kind of noise I enjoy enough to pay a lot of money for.
With that, I hope I’ve answered some of your questions about the bag itself.
Because, videos like this are never about actual bags.
Are they?
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TIME LINE NOTE
Voice over was done 2 days before the 15th and final day of lunar year, but this unboxing video was recorded before the 1st day of lunar new year. So there are 2 weeks apart between unboxing and narration
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THIS CHANNEL HAS NOT BEEN MONETISED BY ME.
I am affiliated with Louis Vuitton or any of its associates in any way.
All items have been purchased at full prices using personal funds.
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#louisvuitton #pharrellwilliams #unboxing #luxury #designer

[@OrangeIsTheNewBag]

6:06 From what I heard from others who are in a position to make comparisons between this Damier Pop material and the classic monogram, the coated canvas for the Damier Pop in 2024 is in fact more supple, thicker, more lush, compared to LV's previous coated canvas. So I am glad to have been able to confirm that I was not just imagining this.
The last time their canvas felt this substantial for me was LV Murakami Speedy 30 and that was 20 years ago in 2004. I never revisited LV since, so I can not comment. The only other LV pieces that I have been able to hold in my hands were not until after 2020: The Petit Malle, Virgil Abloh's carrot pouch, and LV x Yayoi Kusama Gaston pouch / bag. The last of which is the absolute worst, and shockingly bad. More on that in a different upcoming video.