'Maroquinaris Zoologicae' Honu debuts at Louis Vuitton

Rae Huo photos
Louis Vuitton's Honu made its debut during the grand opening of the "Maroquinaris Zoologicae" exhibition at the LV Gump store in Waikiki on Aug. 1. The Honu has a body made of monogram canvas cosmetic and travel cases. Its shell is crafted from Epi leather wallets and card holders in a palette of cyan, indigo and menthe. The exhibition continues through Aug. 31 in the upper floor salon.

"Maroquinaris Zoologicae"
 On view: Through Aug. 31
Place: Louis Vuitton Gump, 2200 Kalakaua Ave., upper-floor salon
Admission: Free
Call: 971-6880

Louis Vuitton's Honu made its debut last Thursday, during the grand opening of the “Maroquinaris Zoologicae” exhibition on view at the Louis Vuitton Gump store in Waikiki through Aug. 31.

The collection had its genesis in 2010, when the luxury brand invited London-based puppet-maker, technical and special effects artist Billie Achilleos to apply her talent to design a collection using LV small leather goods for its Bond Street Maison in London. Since then, the traveling exhibition of creatures has expanded to more than 30, with new designs introduced each year.

Lately, creatures have been chosen to represent various destinations on the collections world tour, including a Kangaroo in Australia, Panda in China, and the Honu for Hawaii. Before seeing the show, I imagined most of the creatures to be purse size, reflecting the materials from which they are made. But most of them turned out to be life-size, true to the creatures that inspired them.

The Honu sculpture is larger than I expected, at more than 3 feet long.

Due to the size of the venue, only eight creatures are on display, but the entire menagerie comprises insects to fur-covered mammals and slick reptiles, each pieced together with handbags, small leather goods, belts, wallets and other accessories made from Louis Vuitton’s distinct monogrammed leathers, canvas and hardware.

The collection is based on the notion that a handbag or wallet slipped into one’s pocket is like a favorite companion to which one forms an everyday attachment, almost like having a pet.

Studying the Grasshopper.

Nadine Kam photos
The soft sculptures have so much character, they look like one of the gentle sea creatures we swim with and that pull themselves up to our shores to bask in the sun.

When I read the shell would be made of Epi leather, I didn't picture it exactly, but it made perfect sense when I saw it. The leather card holders looked just like the marginal scutes on a honu's carapace.

Several people from Louis Vuitton's New York office were in town to oversee the exhibition. Among them were Alex Winokur, left, and Jennifer Barich, with Dale Ruff, LV's VP of Stores, Hawaii region.

 Louis Vuitton photos
Here's a better look at the Grasshopper.

People were asking me which was my favorite, and I like the Armadillo. Many others liked a furry pink-tailed squirrel.

Elsewhere in the world, an exhibition in China was highlighted by a new Panda sculpture.

Afterward, it was fun to get a peek at the new fall collections.